Member for Solomon Luke Gosling is encouraging local schools to take advantage of new rebates to visit the nation’s capital in 2023.

Mr Gosling said the new rebates for schools from outer regional, remote, very remote and disadvantaged areas, available through the Parliament and Civics Education Rebate (PACER) program, will make it more affordable for schools and students across the country to visit Canberra this year as part of their civics and citizenship education.

The program includes visits to Australia’s Parliament, the Australian War Memorial, the Museum of Australian Democracy and the National Electoral Education Centre at Old Parliament House.

“The Government has also extended the temporary 50 per cent increase in the PACER rebate in 2023 to encourage more schools back to Canberra following the COVID-19 pandemic,” Mr Gosling said.

“I strongly encourage all Darwin and Palmerston schools to consider a visit to Canberra and see Australia’s democracy in action.

“Perhaps a visit to Parliament House, the High Court and the Australian War Memorial could inspire a future High Court judge, Chief of the Defence Force, parliamentarian or even one day a Prime Minister from the Top End!”

Minister for Education Jason Clare said immersive visits to national institutions bring to life our democratic system and our nation’s history in a way that sitting in a classroom could never do.

“The increased rebates will help ensure students who live in low socio-economic areas and those who live far from Canberra do not miss out on these significant educational and cultural opportunities,” Minister Clare said.

“All parliamentarians look forward to welcoming school children from their electorates to Parliament House to experience and learn about civics, citizenship and Australian democracy first-hand.”

The additional funding will also apply to those schools which have already completed visits through the PACER initiative in 2023.

For more information on the PACER rebates available to schools visit www.pacer.org.au.