The NSW Labor Government has laid down plans to cut the $250 Regional Apprentice and University Student Travel Card.
Nationals Leader Dugald Saunders said under Labor, this transport lifeline will be cancelled.
“The regional travel cards are there to train our future workforce and help them deal with the rising cost of living,” Mr Saunders said.
“Last week the Labor Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison suggested that tradies could use the card to pay for cigarettes, lollies or Fanta instead of fuel.
“This week we had a second minister dismiss the travel card as a ‘National Party special.’”
Mr Saunders said Labor’s Minister for Skills Tim Crakanthorp said the “taxpayers of NSW deserve better.”
“Young people in regional NSW do deserve better and they deserve to keep this transport lifeline,” Mr Saunders said.
Shadow Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway said the Labor government is cutting programs in regional NSW to spend more money in Sydney.
“Thousands of young people in regional NSW will be worse off when this government tears up these cards,” Mr Farraway said.
“Apprentices and students use their regional travel cards to pay for fuel or public transport.
“The government needs to come clean about its plans to cut the regional travel card or give young people in the regions certainty that they can work and learn without being slugged by the rising cost of living,” he said.
