A spokesman for the federal Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Kevin Andrews told the Australian Associated Press (AAP) the trial was halted after a complaint was lodged raising concerns about the programme’s legality.
The scheme, which began in August, allowed Halls Creek’s Centrelink staff to cancel government benefits to those parents who failed to attend meetings about why their children skipped school.
“It was successful and it did keep truancy rates low, but that does not mean it is not challengeable by law,” Mr Andrews’ spokesman said.
According to Centrelink, attendance rates at the local high school, 2,805 kilometres north of Perth, rose from 54 to 80 percent in the first two months of the pilot.
“The central issue is the use of Social Security law for the purpose of dealing with truancy, and they are looking at that now,” the spokesman added.
He said that legal advice was being sought and was expected to be ready within days.
A spokesman for WA Education and Training Minister Ljiljanna Ravlich said that if the government believed it was a good programme, it should consider changing the law to let it proceed.
Mr Andrews’ spokesman said it was too soon to say what action might be taken.