Mark Speakman
Leader of the Opposition
Eleni Petinos S
hadow Minister for Sport
Final days to use active and creative kids vouchers – Don't let the Minns Labor Government's cuts hurt your family
Parents across New South Wales are being reminded they have only weeks left to apply for and use the Active and Creative Kids vouchers before they expire on 31 December 2024. These vouchers, originally a $200 annual benefit for every school-aged child under the previous Coalition government, have been slashed by the Minns Labor Government and are now means-tested, leaving hundreds of thousands of families worse off.
First introduced in 2018 by the Liberals and Nationals Coalition, families were entitled to two and later three $100 vouchers annually, ensuring all kids could access sport and creative activities. Now, thanks to Chris Minns and his government's broken election promise, families not receiving the Family Tax Benefit will miss out entirely. This means approximately 750,000 children who previously benefited from the program have been left behind.
The Leader of the Opposition Mark Speakman said these vouchers weren't just about dollars and cents; they were about opportunities for children to thrive and succeed and help mums and dads with cost of living for their kids.
"Under this government, children are missing out, parents are struggling, and NSW is sliding backwards," Leader of the Opposition Mark Speakman said.
Shadow Minister for Sport Eleni Petinos said Chris Minns promised to stand by NSW families, but instead he's kneecapped them.
"When he stripped these vouchers from hard-working parents it was an unforgivable attack on children's futures. Sport and creativity are not luxuries—they are necessities for building resilient young Australians. This government's priorities are completely out of step with the values of our state," Ms Petinos said.
Despite Chris Minns' pre-election promise to roll over the vouchers, Labor's axing of universal access is a continual reminder of betrayal to NSW families struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.
Families eligible for the reduced $50 vouchers are being urged to act quickly, with both vouchers able to be used together until 31 December 2024. Vouchers can be claimed through the Service NSW website.
The Minns Labor Government's record of broken promises and mismanagement doesn't stop there. With the NSW Half Yearly Budget Review due this week, NSW taxpayers can expect even more financial surprises, with budget blowouts looming, and the Treasurer failing to submit the state's Total State Sector Accounts on time. It is now over two weeks overdue.
NSW is worse off under the Minns Labor Government.
