‘Inner regional’ student’s 365 days of youth allowance hardship
17-March-2011
Tomorrow marks one year since the Labor Government made changes to the independent youth allowance eligibility criteria, making it harder for thousands of `inner regional’ students to get the assistance.
Federal Member for Parkes, Mark Coulton said the Nationals have been working hard to rectify this issue and “we are not about to stop now.”
“It has been 365 days since Labor introduced unfair changes to the Independent Youth Allowance criteria, forcing ‘inner regional’ students to work an average 30 hours a week and defer up to two years”, Mr Coulton stated. “Students who finished school in 2009 or 2010 have less rights than those in earlier or later years.”
Mr Coulton said the Government’s promise to bring forward the review of the criteria to July this year did not address the problem now and still leaves ‘inner regional’ students disadvantaged.
“We have tried twice to introduce amendments to the House of Representatives and both times the regional Independent MP’s have sided with Labor to stop any changes.”
“Students in Mudgee and Dubbo are being treated unfairly through the Labor Governments Independent Youth Allowance criteria. There is too much uncertainty for these students declared ‘inner regional’ and I am going to continue to push for the Gillard Government to reinstate the original, fairer criteria.”
Nationals Senator Fiona Nash has challenged the Prime Minister to a debate on the Independent Youth Allowance issue.
“Fiona Nash has been working tirelessly on this issue,” Mr Coulton stated. “Julia Gillard has highlighted her contempt for regional students and I know Fiona Nash will hold her to account.”