A review into independent youth allowance as part of student income support reforms is due to report today.
The review was brought forward 12 months by the Gillard government to secure the support of Independent MPs in blocking a Coalition bill to fix independent youth allowance earlier this year.
Former Melbourne University Vice Chancellor, Professor Kwong Lee Dow, chaired the review and held 22 roundtable meetings across Australia. He’s expected to hand his report to the government today.
The report is to then be tabled in each house of parliament within 10 sitting days, that is by Wednesday the 24th of August.
“This report must be tabled in full with no changes or detail removed,” the Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Education, Senator Fiona Nash, said.
“So many inner regional students and their families are hoping this review will recommend changes to the unreasonable 30 hour a week work rule that they have to meet to qualify for independent youth allowance, and that the Gillard government will finally listen.
“The government must also keep its word and remove the regional distinctions that are used to determine eligibility. No student should be penalised for where they live. Any rural or regional student who has to relocate for tertiary studies should get the support they need.
“And if this government had any understanding of the financial hardship it was causing for so many regional students and their families, it would immediately put in place changes to make the system fair rather than wait until next year. It would give regional students and their families the certainty they deserve.”
Senator Nash said the regional Independents, Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott, should also insist the government acts sooner than later, and that inner regional students get a fair deal.
“Mr Windsor and Mr Oakeshott have let these students down before in rejecting the Coalition’s bill. They must put these students ahead of their own political agenda,” she said.
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