Labor and Independents let down ‘inner regional’ students again
03-March-2011
Member for Parkes, Mark Coulton has slammed Labor and the regional Independent MPs Tony Windsor and Rob Oakshott as they sided with the Government to once again disadvantage ‘inner regional’ students.
The Coalition moved an amendment in the House of Representatives to the Appropriation Bill (No.3) 2010 – 2011, to call on the government to apply the same criteria for inner regional students as currently applies to other regional zones, from 1 July this year.
“The Independents sold out regional students for little more than a ‘promise’ of a review in the middle of this year, with any changes considered not occurring until January 2012,” Mr Coulton stated. “The amendment we introduced this week would have seen the original and fairer eligibility criteria reinstated from July this year.”
“‘Inner regional’ students who left school in 2009, and had a gap year in 2010, are now still required to work an average 30 hours a week and defer up to two years. Had the Coalition’s bill passed, they’d now be relieved of this unfair criteria.”
“This Government’s new promise of a review into Youth Allowance this year should be weighed against the many broken deals, such as Julia Gillard’s promise of no carbon tax.”
“The frustrating thing is Julia Gillard could fix this tomorrow. This problem for ‘inner regional’ students was caused by her when she was Education Minister and she needs to act now and implement the 1 July start date for fairness for regional students.”
The Nationals will continue working to keep this issue alive.