The NSW Rees Government announced cuts to the School Student Transport Scheme in the 2008 mini budget on November 11 and plans to introduce a system of co-payment.

The previous scheme had subsidised transport mostly on private bus services in country areas for 680,000 school students.

Parents are expecting to pay $45 for primary school students, $90 for high school students with a cap of $180 per family with hardship exemptions factored in to the equation.

Henty School bus owner Dennis Kane is concerned about the significant administrative costs that will come with the introduction of a co-payment.

“It’s going to be difficult to collect,” he said.

Currently it is not known if the schools or the bus companies will have to collect the payment.

“I certainly don’t want to be put in the position of refusing children on the bus because they haven’t made a payment, that’s not what we are about,” Mr Kane said.

From the bus company’s point of view, he doesn’t expect numbers to change too drastically because of the cost of driving students to school over long distances.

In the past the NSW State government has moved children out of central schools in smaller communities such as Holbrook and Henty and transported them to the larger educational centre at Billabong High School.

Bus NSW, the Association for buses and coaches points to the financial hardship to many rural and regional communities affected by drought and economic downturn.

It says bus travel to and from school is safer than the family car, walking or riding.

Member for Wagga Wagga Daryl Maguire said the axing of free school student transport is a bad decision because it hits families in the hip pocket when they can least afford it.

“It puts school children’s safety at risk and worsens congestion around schools.”

To lodge a protest against the harsh cuts, parents can sign a petition now at www.savestudenttravel.com.au or call for a petition form 0269211622.