EXCLUSIVE: WA’s most expensive schools stashing JobKeeper profits
Federal Labor has slammed the Commonwealth over its JobKeeper scheme claiming dozens of elite private schools in WA have turned a profit using the pandemic payments.
46 private schools reportedly received a share of $115 million. Hale School claimed the most at $7.5 million.
Every WA school named in the list (except one) made a profit with JobKeeper, plus increased profits over the previous year.
“The collective profits between those five schools (Scotch College, Christ Church Grammar School, Presbyterian Ladies College, St Hilda’s Girls School, Guildford Grammar) rose by $30 million. That means they banked the lot,” Liam Bartlett revealed on 6PR Mornings.
“Nice big fat cheques from the treasury. Using my money, your money, and they banked the lot. Five of the most elite schools in Western Australia.”
Press PLAY to hear the full details of the list below
Shadow Assistant Minister for Treasury Andrew Leigh has told Liam Bartlett the Job-Keeper system saved jobs in struggling organisations – but the payments were also given to entities who didn’t need them.
“Some twenty billion dollars, around $2000 for every household in Australia, went to organisations whose revenue was going up rather than down during the pandemic. This new data reveals that a chunk of that was going to high fee schools,” he said.
Press PLAY to hear Federal Labor MP Andrew Leigh criticising the Morrison government
JobKeeper saved jobs in struggling firms. But did the Morrison Govt really need to give it to high-fee schools with rising profits? During a recession and a pandemic, was this honestly the best use of taxpayer money? https://t.co/Xj8zBSLblm #auspol
— Andrew Leigh (@ALeighMP) February 7, 2022