The Wire

Mixed reactions to a concept put forward by Aboriginal representative Noel Pearson to withhold parents’ family payment if their children don’t attend school regularly. More indigenous children are attending school than ever before yet social problems driven by the common element of poverty mean many schools struggle with low attendance rates. Principal of Aurukun State school, Ian Mackie says the idea of withholding centerlink payments will spark the debate needed to discuss options when it comes to the issue of truancy. Associate Professor and Director of the Goomarri Centre at Queenslands Griffith University, Bonnie Robertson says this “no school no pay” option shocked her.