Gillard Labor Government again fails future rural students
June 17, 2011
A private member’s motion was put into Parliament yesterday by the Coalition calling for the tough criteria for eligibility for Independent Youth Allowance (IYA) for inner regional students to be changed by 1 July 2011.
Federal Member for Murray, Dr Sharman Stone said that the Gillard Labor Government has made it virtually impossible for Year 12 school leavers to complete a single gap year of employment which allows them to then claim financial support while studying away from home.
“The Gillard Government has admitted that there is a problem with the criteria that discriminates against Year 12 students from places like the Goulburn Valley, and right up to Deniliquin,” Sharman Stone said.
“They have said that they will review the difference between the inner regional and the outer and remote regional zones but the motion proposed an immediate removal of these differences.
“I was particularly disappointed to see the regional Independents, Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott join Labor to defeat the motion.
“As well the Labor members for the seat of McEwen, Mr Rob Mitchell, and for Bendigo, Mr Steve Gibbons voted to maintain the current policy of discrimination which in reality locks many of their constituents out of adequate support for studying away from home,” Sharman Stone said.
“The motion also called for all students who had a gap year in 2010 (ie 2009 school leavers) and who meet the original criteria to be allowed to qualify for the payment.
“The defeat of the motion by the Gillard Government, supported by the Independents shows just how out of touch this government is with the cost of living pressures that rural and regional students and their families are facing.
“If the Coalition was in government, rural students could be assured that the eligibility criteria for IYA would be made fair and equitable,” Sharman Stone said.