Labor, the Greens and Independent Nick Xenophon today dashed any hope students living in inner regional areas had in getting the Independent Youth Allowance, the Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Education, Senator Fiona Nash, said.
“They refused to even debate my Private Senator’s Bill that would have ensured all regional students had a chance of getting the assistance because at the moment, thousands don’t,” Senator Nash said.
The vote was tied which, in the Senate, means it was negatived.
“My Bill sought to reinstate the original and fairer criteria for students living in `inner regional’ areas. It would have made it easier for them to qualify rather than being forced to work longer for 18 months under Labor’s changes,” Senator Nash said.
“The Greens pretend to champion the needs of regional youth yet chose to block debate on this Bill and instead call for an inquiry. The students need certainty now, before the start of next year, not months later. Unfortunatelylegalising same sex marriage and euthanasia seems to be the Greens’ top priority.
“Meantime, Senator Xenophon lobbies to stop gambling with poker machines yet is gambling on the future of regional students by blocking this Bill. He too prefers to wait months, for a review of the current arrangements. Who knows how long that will take under this Labor government!
“As for Labor’s Senator Evans, he should hang his head in shame for letting down thousands of regional students.
“The Coalition sought to move amendments to the legislation back in March, to make the criteria fairer for “inner regional” students. And we took that to the election as our policy.
“The Coalition will not give up on regional students.”
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