SEE HOW MUCH YOUR SUBURB RECEIVED: Labor buckles to calls to release student payment data

School-by-school payout data from the State Government’s Student Assistance Payment has been released, with Labor buckling to calls from The West and the Opposition to reveal the details of its cost-of-living support program. In a win for The West Australian, Education Minister Tony Buti released the data in Parliament on Tuesday, after months of requests from media and the Opposition to reveal the payout figures. With the payouts finalised, Dr Buty revealed more than $75 million had been paid to almost 400,000 primary and secondary school students’ families under the program — about 80 per cent of those eligible. Families were paid $150 per primary-school-aged student and $250 for each high school student under the program aimed at lowering cost-of-living pressures for families. Baldivis was the suburb with the highest payout figure, pocketing more than $1.6 million, while Canning Vale ($1.08 million), Ellenbrook ($978,650), Byford ($846,750), and Willetton ($840,550) were in the top five suburbs. In the country — Australind ($583,000), Halls Head ($400,000) and Dalyellup ($371,000) saw the highest claim rates. Families at some of Perth’s most expensive private schools also claimed, with Hale School (78 per cent of eligible families), St Mary’s (72 per cent), and Scotch College (70 per cent). Almost 3500 home-schooling families claimed more than $700,000. Schools with the lowest claim rates were largely in remote areas and Aboriginal communities. Of 25 students eligible at Parnngurr Community School, just one family claimed $150. At Marble Bar Primary School, despite 28 families being eligible, just two claimed the funding, while just one in 10 of the 297 students at Ngaanyatjarra Lands School applied for the payment. In a statement to Parliament, Dr Buti said the statistics showed the payment was a “welcome measure” to ease families’ cost of living. “We are very proud to have delivered this opportunity to WA families with school-aged children to help with their ongoing school costs. It’s fantastic to see such an outstanding response to the program,” he said. “I want to thank all the school staff and local members who have supported families in accessing this government support. “The promotion of the payment in your local communities demonstrates your support for your community.” The release of the data came after the Minister said at a July press conference saying in July he did not know what purpose it would serve. “We’re not engaged in the school-by-school competition race,” Dr Buti said in July. “We will provide what we believe we should provide.” That was despite the same data being given to Labor MPs to promote the program while it was accepting applications during Term Two. Shadow education minister Peter Rundle said he remained concerned about disadvantaged families who were unable to access the payment or were unaware. “The figures released from the Minister for Education confirm that one in five students haven’t received the WA Student Assistance Payment,” he said. “If the State Government had used a method similar to some other States, then all families and students would have been catered for. “I am also bemused that the Minister thanked local members of Parliament who supported the payment when he would only release the information to his own Government members and not the opposition or the media.” Leftover funds from the $104 million program have since been redirected to a significant increase to the Secondary Assistance Scheme’s Clothing Allowance, providing an extra $185 for eligible students from low-income families. The Government has also donated $500,000 to WA-based charity Give Write to support the distribution of new and recycled stationery to school children in need right across the State, and we have increased the Government’s KidSport program — with up to $500 in vouchers now available to help families cover the cost of children’s sport. Top 20 Metro Suburbs for funds claimed Regional WA