Regional Apprentice and Student Travel Card

The Hon. AILEEN MacDONALD (13:17:42):

I take note of the answer given today by the Minister for Regional Transport and Roads. It is great to see that this side of the House is investing in the tradies, teachers and technicians of tomorrow. Programs like the regional seniors travel card have proven to be popular and successful whilst also injecting money into our regional economies. My parents in Yamba have been beneficiaries of that scheme. The regional apprentice and uni student travel card will have a similar effect whilst also providing valuable cost‑of‑living relief to our regional apprentices, trainees and uni students.

The local university and TAFE in my home town are approximately 40 kilometres down the road, so the travel card is a welcome initiative for the young people of Guyra. The New South Wales Coalition Government is boosting the budget of uni students and apprentices in the bush who have to travel long distances. The regional apprentice and uni student travel card improves everyday life by making it cheaper and easier for those in the bush to travel long distances for their education, training and work. Only the New South Wales Coalition Government can deliver a brighter future for New South Wales.

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