By Dennis Amor
Have
your say
CARAVANNERS have slammed a suggestion that the school bonus should be
spent on family holidays.
THE $2.1 billion federally-approved handout will begin flowing this month,
giving parents payments of $410 for each primary school child and $820 for
those attending high school.
AAA Tourism is reported as saying many families would spend the bonus on
electronic equipment which, although appealing at first, would ultimately
"encourage a sedentary, unhealthy lifestyle".
It said taking a local holiday, however, would not only be enjoyable but
educational for the whole family, adding that holidays should be "right
behind educational essentials such as school fees, books or uniforms".
Caravanning News went on the road to ask travellers for their
opinions.
Caravanner Brian Treadwell, from New South Wales, believed AAA Tourism was
out of order by encouraging parents to "misappropriate" the school bonus.
"It is totally irresponsible to even plant the seeds of such an idea," he
said. "The cash handout won't go very far as it is, let alone suggesting
that parents spend it on holidays under the guise of educational breaks."
And grey nomad Col Martin commented: "Of course they are going to
encourage parents to spend the money on holidays ... as a tourist body
they have a vested interest.
"I am sure most parents will see through this and recognise it for what it
is. I think it is a feeble attempt to jump on the school bonus bandwagon
and encourage people to channel more cash into the struggling tourism
sector."
Queensland caravanner and mother of three children aged between 9 and 15
Judy Glover said every cent would be spent on school-related necessities,
which did not include holidays.
"Maybe the person who made this silly suggestion doesn't have children so
has no idea just how expensive it can be to keep them at school these days
when even the basics of living, such as food and electricity, are getting
more expensive by the week," she said.
"Although I'm very grateful for the bonus, it still won't go very far in
meeting all my school bills. It certainly won't be squandered on more
holidays, particularly with many caravan parks pricing us budget-conscious
families out of the market."
