The Coalition’s Regional Education spokeswoman, Senator Fiona Nash, has challenged the Prime Minister to a debate on independent youth allowance.
Tomorrow marks a 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.
These students have to work 30 hours a week for up to two years to qualify, yet a fairer criteria applies to students living in outer regional, remote and very remote zones. Senator Nash said the same fair criteria should apply to all regional based students.
“The Labor government conceded they got it wrong but only agreed to move forward a review of youth allowance to July this year and that any changes will happen in January 2012. The Tertiary Education Minister, Senator Chris Evans, admitted during last month’s senate estimates that they have no idea at this stage what any changes there would be to the independent youth allowance,” she said.
“The Coalition moved an amendment to make immediate changes at the conclusion of the review in July, to give regional students certainty. But Labor, with the backing of Independents Tony Windsor, Rob Oakeshott and Andrew Wilkie, sold out regional students by voting against fairness from the 1st of July this year.
“I say let’s get the ball rolling now, starting with a debate. I challenge the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, to a town hall style debate, in a regional centre, where those affected by Labor’s legislation live.
“I have written to the Prime Minister and challenged her to such a debate. If she’s so confident in the Labor government’s youth allowance legislation, then she should be up for it.”
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