In an attempt to slash spending ahead of next week’s mini-budget, the NSW government has wielded the axe and reformed the free school bus transport scheme.

The popular $50 back to school allowance used to help pay for text books, stationary and uniforms at the beginning of each school year has also been cut, NSW Premier Rees confirmed yesterday.

Concerned parents in Orange yesterday voiced their outrage at the government’s decision, which will affect children living within four kilometres of their school.

“It’s going to be tough considering I am a single mother with two children at school and another going into kindergarten next year,” Orange mum Brooke Gant said yesterday.

“If I have to pay over a thousand dollars a year to get them to school in the future then I won’t be able to work during the morning and afternoon so I can pick them up, which I’m lucky enough to do now.”

Member for Orange Russell Turner yesterday labelled the cabinet decision misguided and irresponsible and called on the premier to make cutbacks in the Department of Education instead of “picking on country kids”.

“This has come at the worst possible time for families throughout the central west who are on farms and still continue to struggle with the financial strains of the drought,” he said.

“Generous sick leave entitlements, stress leave, training days and a host of other privileges are all abused from some teachers who have their own interests ahead of the school children in their charge.

NSW Treasure Eric Roozendaal said the scheme is no longer affordable and would be replaced with a new system that will be revealed on November 11.