The Nationals Senator for New South Wales John Williams has expressed concern at the cutting of a program that assists schools in areas of severe drought.

Senator Williams has questioned officers from the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations during a Senate Estimates hearing.

Senator Williams said the program provided funding to schools in areas of Exceptional Circumstances for school-based activities ranging from student excursions to purchasing of text books, but has been wiped from July this year.

“Anecdotally where severe drought grips a district, some families are forced to leave which equates to less children at the local school and reduced school fees, but even for many children who remain in the school their parents are unable to afford the extras such as excursions and social activities.

This has a flow-on effect on the economy of the town community organisations.

The Drought Assistance for Schools program which was started by the Coalition Government in 2007 had filled a void because schools could be eligible for up to $10,000 a year.

Departmental officers attempted to reassure me that schools can access other programs, but those are family-based and not specifically for schools.

This is extremely worrying. This Government has again shown where there are no votes there is no interest”, Senator Williams said.