The Prime Minister and Tertiary Education Minister are under mounting pressure to fix the mess they made with the Independent Youth Allowance. The Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Education, Fiona Nash, has written to them both, urging them to make the system fair for students living in `inner regional’ areas. It follows Independent senator, Nick Xenophon, publicly stating his support for Senator Nash’s bill to reinstate the original and fairer eligibility criteria, if the government didn’t change its position. He’s also written to Prime Minister Gillard and the Minister, Senator Chris Evans, on that basis. Senators Nash and Xenophon both participated in last month’s public hearing into the Independent Youth Allowance where they heard compelling, and at times disturbing evidence on the effect the government’s changes are having on regional students, their families and communities. “The hearing heard evidence from the department stating that around 5500 students from `inner regional’ areas cannot get Independent Youth Allowance under the single gap year arrangements. The frustration of these students, their families and concerned others is evident in the various petitions they’ve signed that call for a fair system,” Senator Nash said. “The Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Minister Evans cannot continue to ignore this issue and must make it a new year’s resolution to fix it now. “I’m pleased Senator Xenophon is also seeking to get some commonsense on this matter and appreciate his support in fixing this injustice.”
The Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Education, Fiona Nash, has written to them both, urging them to make the system fair for students living in `inner regional’ areas.
It follows Independent senator, Nick Xenophon, publicly stating his support for Senator Nash’s bill to reinstate the original and fairer eligibility criteria, if the government didn’t change its position. He’s also written to Prime Minister Gillard and the Minister, Senator Chris Evans, on that basis.
Senators Nash and Xenophon both participated in last month’s public hearing into the Independent Youth Allowance where they heard compelling, and at times disturbing evidence on the effect the government’s changes are having on regional students, their families and communities.
“The hearing heard evidence from the department stating that around 5500 students from `inner regional’ areas cannot get Independent Youth Allowance under the single gap year arrangements. The frustration of these students, their families and concerned others is evident in the various petitions they’ve signed that call for a fair system,” Senator Nash said.
“The Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Minister Evans cannot continue to ignore this issue and must make it a new year’s resolution to fix it now.
“I’m pleased Senator Xenophon is also seeking to get some commonsense on this matter and appreciate his support in fixing this injustice.”
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