Rees & Roozendaal cut costs at the wrong end

The Coffs Coast Advocate article yesterday:

COFFS Coast mother Maureen McDermot thought education was free in Australia, but news that the State Government is planning to axe free school travel for students makes her wonder just how free it really is.
Changes to the School Student Transport Scheme, which has subsidised student travel to and from school for more than 40 years, are expected to cost parents almost $400 a child each year....
Treasurer Eric Roozendaal said reform was essential due to NSW's financial situation.
"It will be a tough process but tough economic times require tough decisions," Mr Roozendaal said.
"The government rightly subsidises the cost of public transport, but we also have to be realistic about what we can afford."
The changes are expected to be unveiled in the State mini-budget by NSW Treasurer Eric Roozendaal on November 11.

I think that quite a few people on the NSW North Coast can empathise with Maureen.
With many students having to travel more than average distances to local schools and with no real railway travel alternative to the school bus or family car, the high cost of unsubsidised bus travel or heavy fuel costs may just see more than one child forced to miss school because there is no money left in the family purse that week for bus fares or petrol.

Premier Rees is being remarkably short-sighted in even thinking of applying his cost-cutting to rural or regional areas.
His understanding of non-metropolitan issues is sadly wanting - the Northern Rivers has some of the lowest family incomes in the state.