Independent MP, Rob Oakeshott, appears to be refusing an offer to debate the best way regional students can access independent youth allowance.
The Coalition’s Regional Education spokesperson, Senator Fiona Nash, issued the challenge to Mr Oakeshott earlier this month. But his letter of response did not acknowledge it.
“Mr Oakeshott owes regional students and their families an explanation as to why he deserted them in getting fair access to independent youth allowance,” Senator Nash said.
“By siding with Labor, students have to wait many months longer until after a review before, and if anything is done to fix the injustice.”
Mr Oakeshott refused to support the Coalition’s attempts for an immediate resolution, by reinstating the same, fair criteria for `inner’ regional students that applies to others elsewhere. At the moment, `inner’ regional students are required to work full time and defer their tertiary studies for up to two years to qualify.
“I have received countless letters, emails and calls from students and parents, including from Mr Oakeshott’s electorate, who are frustrated at the difficulty in accessing the allowance. It is an incredibly difficult situation for parents who have been telling me that, without the allowance, they cannot afford to send their children to university.
“Yet bizarrely Mr Oakeshott insists he is acting in their interest. It’s time he took the opportunity to prove it and agree to front up to a debate.”
Monday, May 02, 2011 5:35 PM
It,s pretty obvious that the mentally ill oakeshott is a labor stooge,Can he be ousted on grounds of being medically unfit to represent the people of lyne?
Thursday, May 12, 2011 4:46 PM
It certainly is incredibly disappointing that Rob Oakeshott hasn't supported regional students in his electorate. It's unacceptable that the government continues to treat regional students unfairly.