Parents should avoid putting major school related purchases under the Christmas Tree this year so that the expenses can be claimed as part of the re-elected Coalitions education tax rebate, Senator for Queensland, Senator Ron Boswell said today. Senator Boswell said parents should consider delaying the purchase of a new musical instrument, calculator, computer or school bag until after January 1 so it can form part of their claim for a 40% tax rebate for educational expenses of up to $400 for primary students and $800 for secondary students. Whilst focus in the media has been on the inclusion of school fees in the rebate , what most people havent yet realised is that if the Howard Government s re-elected this Saturday, Parents will be able to claim all types of expenses relating to the costs of education including :- Musical instruments, School uniforms, textbooks and Stationery, camp and excursion fees, sporting equipment, bus fares to extracurricular events, voluntary levies (computers library, and air-conditioning) and tools for manual arts or home economics, he said. What I am saying to Parents today is if a clarinet, cricket bat or computer is on their childs Christmas List, even the iconic first school bag for their pre-schooler, consider making that purchase after January 1, 2008 so that the full rebate can be claimed. As most parents of children in the State schooling system would be aware, the State Government have let the school system run down so much that school is no longer free. Parents are constantly putting their hands in their pockets for even the most basic resources and events. Parents are paying levies for art and craft material, readers for the classroom and new books for the school library. The new education rebate will enable parents to choose how they spend their education dollar, according to the needs of their children, rather than being forced to buy computers for each of their children under the Rudd rebate program. The Education rebate is broad enough to cover the needs of children with a wide cross section of interests rather than focussing, like the Labor Party has only on one issue, computers. The 40% rebate on up to $1000 of expenses for primary students and $2000 for secondary will result in a maximum rebate of $400 for primary students and $800 for secondary. Parents without a taxable income will still be able to claim either through the Taxation Dept or Centrelink. Senator Boswell said he had recently raised the issue of costs associated with sport with the Prime Minister concerned that family budgets were being so burdened with costs for basic educational services that they were unable to continue their childs involvement of physical activity. I am very proud that the Prime Minister has responded with a massive program targeted to every parent of school age children accommodating all needs and interests. ENDS Media contact 0428 450 942 or 0428 714 779