Government to review disastrous Youth Allowance
February 21, 2011
The Labor Federal Government has finally conceded that their unfair Independent Youth Allowance criteria, which disadvantages regional students, needs revisiting.
Higher Education Minister, Chris Evans, today announced the Federal Government would review the Independent Youth Allowance system by July, to be put into practice by the first of January next year.
Today in the House of Representatives the Government shut out a Coalition Bill passed in the Senate on the basis that it was unconstitutional. The Bill, if passed, would have ensured students living in ‘inner regional areas” would have fairer criteria for Independent Youth Allowance.
Dr Sharman Stone, Federal Member for Murray, said although the Government’s announcement showed that they had at least conceded the problem is real, we have had numerous inquiries and reviews. They should simply get on with making changes.
“The Gillard Government said that the review will find the $90 million per year required to pay for the extra tertiary student allowances.”
“However the Coalition under John Howard left a multi-billion dollar education fund that has not yet been completely wiped out by Labor,” Sharman Stone said.
Speaking in Parliament today, Sharman Stone said that it would be difficult for students to find almost full time work for two years, or the $20,000 it costs to live away from home to study. As well, few universities grant two years of deferral of a place offered.
Sharman Stone also accused the Labor Government of refusing to properly fund rural universities to offer a comprehensive set of degrees. A Murray Electorate student can not study engineering, medicine, law or science locally. They simply have to leave.
“It has been a long battle for local students, their parents and families who have signed petitions, lobbied the government, attended rallies and talked directly to Prime Minister Julia Gillard.”
“Bit by bit the Labor Government has been pushed towards a better deal for all students but is still dragging the chain in fixing the issue,” Sharman Stone said.