Community steps up fight to keep school transport for students with a disability

23 September 2016

Local parents and bus operators have joined with their local MP to call on the Turnbull LNP Federal Government to guarantee the future of the school transport assistance program for students with a disability.

State Member for Morayfield, Mark Ryan MP, said local families are concerned by the lack of information from the Federal Government’s National Disability Insurance Agency regarding the future of school transport assistance for students with a disability.

"Currently, this program is run by the Queensland Government, but it will transition to the Federal Government under the NDIS after 2019," Mr Ryan said.

"Parents, school communities and transport operators have serious concerns about how these services will be delivered post-2019 and they have received no clear information from the Federal Government.

"Many people agree that the current program run by the Queensland Government is one of the best in the nation. That’s why so many of us want the Federal Government to guarantee its continued availability when the NDIS rolls out in our area.

"Today, I’m joining with families from Caboolture Special School and Ace Buses to launch a petition that we hope will spurn the Turnbull Government into action and provide the certainty local families need.

"We need certainty now for our community."

Director of Ace Buses, Jane Stevens, said that operators needed certainty in order to guarantee the service they provide.

"This service is all about the students. Our staff and operators are all very passionate about what we do and safety is paramount," Ms Steven said.

"The only way forward we can see for student transport is for them to remain on the current services."

People wishing to support the campaign can sign the petition online by heading to www.markryan.com.au/buspetition