State Member for Wallsend, Ms Sonia Hornery MP, has called on the Education Minister, the Hon Sarah Mitchell MLC, to ensure that no parents or students are left out of pocket, following the directive by the Department of Education to cancel all international school trips.
Ms Hornery’s office has been overwhelmed with phone calls and emails from concerned parents and students who have invested a significant amount of money for school trips in the next two months.
Travel and insurance companies are advising parents and students that they will likely be left out of pocket for almost all of the money they have spent because of the directive by the Department of Education.
Ms Horney has written to the Minister and will be moving a Notice of Motion in Parliament this week calling on the Minister to provide compensation to all parents and students who are left out of pocket.
Quotes attributable to State Member for Wallsend, Sonia Hornery MP
“I have heard some heartbreaking stories in the last 48 hours from parents and students who have scrimped and saved every cent for months to be able to pay for the trip of a lifetime, only to have it ripped away from them.”
“This is impacting schools right across the State. I have had contact from a number of concerned principals, parents and students asking what can be done to assist them financially.”
“My office has spoken to insurance companies and travel agents that are involved and they have all confirmed that parents and students are likely to lose most, if not all, of the money they have spent on the trips.”
“Student safety is paramount and the Minister and Departments are obviously acting on sound medical advice from NSW Health professionals.”
“Given that the Department are the ones cancelling the trips, then they should be making sure parents and students are not left out of pocket and should be compensating them.”
“I have written to the Minister asking for her to urgently give some reassurance to parents and students who are devastated by this decision.”