Just five weeks into the school year and more than 58,000 students are missing a day of school each week, according to the Productivity Commission’s Annual Report on Government Services.
Shadow education minister Liam Staltari said the 80 per cent attendance rate had worsened in the past decade.
“Behind every percentage point are thousands of missed school days – and for many children, which means falling behind and having difficulty catching up,” he said.
“School is our kids’ best shot at a quality education and a good start in life. The time for excuses is long gone – it’s time for action.”
Staltari called on the state government to release a plan to lift attendance – including transparent targets, stronger early intervention for at-risk students, and bolstered resourcing to help schools and families address the causes of chronic non-attendance.
Here’s what’s making news across the nation and around the world:
- Fresh Israeli strikes on the headquarters of Iran’s remaining leadership have likely eliminated more candidates the US had in mind to take over the country, US President Donald Trump said, as he denied Israel forced his hand to launch the initial attacks.
- The first commercial flight from the Middle East to Australia since the outbreak of war between the US, Israel and Iran has taken off, in a promising sign for a Labor government that has pinned its hopes for the repatriation of stranded Australians on commercial airlines amid an unfolding “consular crisis”.
- KIIS FM has addressed the spectacular implosion of Australia’s most expensive radio program –the Kyle & Jackie O show, which has dominated the Sydney FM market for decades – at the start of Wednesday’s live broadcast.
- Tax breaks for high-end electric cars would be axed or restricted to cheaper models under a proposal the government is actively considering in an attempt to claw back $3 billion in deductions in the May budget.
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog for Wednesday, March 4.
Making headlines today, a fly-in, fly-out worker who recently moved to WA for work and the lifestyle has had his ute stolen from Perth Airport and trashed, just days after he received his permanent residency.
Meanwhile, the headaches have continued for Main Roads WA’s Malcolm Street Bridge barrier upgrade project after it was hit with a further six-month delay.
The $1.3 million project started in February 2024 and has forced the closure of the right lane on Malcolm Street in West Perth heading east to St Georges Terrace for that period.
And a former Perth restaurant owner has been fined $40,000 after he was found guilty of being responsible for two children and their mother being serviced mosquito repellant instead of cranberry juice by a bar tender in 2024.
Stay with us as we bring you the news of the day, as it happens.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
