ANTI-violence crusader Paul Stanley has congratulated the state government for considering introducing coward punch classes to all high school grades.
Mr Stanley was speaking out after the state government announced it has allocated $2.155million this financial year for dedicated high school classroom campaigns.
The funding is double what was allocated in 2014-2015 which was $1.079million and was announced weeks after Brisbane teen Cole Miller died when he was punched in the head during a night out in Fortitude Valley.
Mr Stanley, whose 15-year-old son Matthew died after being punched in the head at a party in 2006, is already teaching grade 11 and 12 students of the dangers of alcohol and violence.
"This initiative will help a great deal - but we are yet to see exactly what funding has been allocated," he said.
"The coward punch death toll is likely to rise without adequate education programs targeting primary and high school students."
Mr Stanley said he was heartened by the government's announcement, less than a month after a request for funding from him and the Queensland Homicide Victims Support Group was rejected.
In December, Mr Stanley and the group met with attorney general Yvett D'Arth, who was unwilling to commit to a funding request for $50,000.
"She said she realised that $50,000 was not a lot but when there are 20 or 30 groups all asking for funding she said it added up," Mr Stanley said.
He said there were at least 10 violent deaths a year in the state resulting in many families needing support.
The state changed the school curriculum in 2014, when it asked Mr Stanley to continue his program and speak to students about alcohol, drugs and violence.
