Mind the Gap: Nationals take stand to protect regional students
2nd June, 2009
The Nationals will take action in the Senate to ensure that students currently undertaking a gap year in order to qualify for the Youth Allowance will not be unfairly disadvantaged by Labor’s retrospective Budget changes to the independent youth allowance.In addition to the planned Senate inquiry into the Youth Allowance legislation, The Nationals will immediately refer to a Senate Committee the broader issue of ensuring that there are adequate opportunities for students who are required to live away from home to further their education.
This could be country students who must travel long distances to attend city universities or students from the major cities attending regional universities or TAFE.
The Nationals will consider what additional changes to the system will be required following examination of the Committee’s report.
The Government announced changes to the eligibility criteria for the independent youth allowance in last month’s Budget. Current gap year students who have in good faith worked for at least 15 months over an 18 month period or have earned more than $19,532 in that time have had the system suddenly changed on them.
From 1 January, they need work at least 30 hours a week for 18 months in a two year period. This particularly affects gap year students, and concern over the changes is reaching boiling point in regional communities across the nation.
“The anger and frustration expressed by students, parents and teachers from regional communities across Australia is quite extraordinary,” Mr Truss said. “I have had contact with hundreds of people, one Nationals MP has had 2500 people sign a petition, another received 55 emails in a single day and hundreds of people turned up in Shepparton and Inverell to protest.
“The Nationals are fighting these changes because they make it harder for students from regional areas to pursue their university aspirations.
“Regional students looking to attend university in 2010 took advice from principals and careers counsellors when they decided to embark on a gap year which would enable them to qualify for the full rate of independent youth allowance.
“They acted in good faith so that upon commencement of their tertiary studies they would be able to support themselves which would go a long way to alleviating some of the costs associated with establishing a home away from home.
“These students now they feel like they’ve been cheated by the Rudd Government.”
In addition, Labor has decided to abolish Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarships worth $4,415 a year and replace them with a relocation allowance worth $4,000 in the first year and only $1,000 for the following three years.
“The Nationals want at the very least a guarantee that current gap year students are not affected. We are using the Senate Committee inquiry process to delve further into the Government’s proposals to see if more changes are needed.
“Most tertiary institutions only allow a deferral of studies for one year and now regional students on their gap year face the prospect of losing their spot or trying to attend university without proper financial assistance. Many will be forced to simply abandon their university education altogether.
“Rural and remote students already have only about one third of the opportunity to obtain a tertiary qualification as those who live in the cities. Labor’s plans will make this disadvantage even worse.
“I urge regional students and parents from around Australia to contact their local Labor or Coalition members. If Labor MPs and senators refuse to act, please contact a Nationals’ MP or senator and they will take a stand on your behalf,” Mr Truss said.
