NATIONALS senator Fiona Nash has questioned new figures which suggest the Gillard government's Youth Allowance reforms have been a win for country students.
Senator Nash has led a coalition crusade against "unfair" student income support criteria that make it harder for young people from inner regional areas to qualify for the benefit.
Under Labor's changes, additional workforce participation tests were retained for those living in remote regional areas, but those from towns such as Bendigo and Gympie must work an average of 30 hours a week for 18 months to get the money.
Education department data released today revealed the number of students living in "inner-regional" areas receiving a Youth Allowance payment to help with higher education costs had risen by 20 per cent, to 4250 over the past 12 months.
At the same time, the number of "outer-regional and remote" students getting the benefit rose by 27 per cent, to 2150.
Senator Nash called for a more detailed breakdown of the figures, which she believed were probably misleading.
"I strongly suspect those students are not getting the full rate of Youth Allowance," she told AAP.
"This Labor government is continuing to treat regional students unfairly."
National Union of Students president Jesse Marshall warned there were many would-be students in regional areas who were still missing out under the current laws.
"The release of data today showing that more students from regional areas are attending university is welcome," he said.
"But it does not tell the whole story."
Tertiary Education Minister Chris Evans said the figures proved Labor's reforms hadn't hurt country students.
"For all the coalition's scare campaign, the figures tell the true story - more country students are better off as a result of the Gillard government's reforms," he said.
Senator Evans promised new Youth Allowance eligibility criteria that removed the distinction between inner and outer regional students would be introduced from January next year.
SOURCE: http://news.brisbanetimes.com.au/breaking-news-national/youth-allowance-figures-misleading-nash-20110601-1fg5f.html
Thursday, June 02, 2011 4:13 PM
Senator Evans has again promised to fix the "Inner Regional" problem by next January, but there is no detail. My gut tells me there will be strings attached to any solution. Keep on there backs Fiona.
Regards
Barry Direen TAS
Monday, June 06, 2011 8:02 PM
I wish at sometime Chris Evans would indicate where and how the 2010 Gap year students will be looked after. We fit all of the criteria except are classed as inner regional living in Gladstone. We have redrawn 20,000 off of our morgage to pay for this years fees and living for our daughter.
What do we do for the next 3 years.
Thank you Fiona this country sure needs more of you.
Wednesday, January 04, 2012 11:38 AM
Barry, Dona, thank you for your comments.