“The Coalition’s Independent Youth Allowance bill was passed in the senate today”, said the Member for Wannon, Dan Tehan.
The Social Security Amendment (Income Support for Regional Students) Bill 2010 was introduced in the Senate last September and seeks to amend the legislation so that the same eligibility criteria for Independent Youth Allowance applies to all regional students.
“Not a week goes by where I don’t meet with a young person in Wannon who has been affected by Labor’s changes to Youth Allowance, and are now being forced to re evaluate, or abandon, their plans to go to university.
“This is an important step in the fight and I will continue until we see a fairer deal for rural and regional students, said Mr Tehan.”
The Coalition’s bill was passed in the senate with the support of Independent senator, Nick Xenophon, and Family First Senator, Steve Fielding. However, the Greens sided with Labor to oppose it.
“Prime Minister Gillard has clearly lost her way, proving that it wasn’t just Kevin, it’s the Labor Government that is the problem. She needs to admit that she got it wrong when she was Education Minister and support this Bill for a fairer Youth Allowance.
Labor’s absurd and desperate claims that the Coalition’s bill is not costed or constitutional are completely wrong. This was part of the Coalition’s education election policy and the costing was submitted to Treasury. Treasury did not comment, indicating it had no issues with the costing.
“The Coalition’s bill will now go to the House of Representatives and I hope the Independent MPs, Tony Windsor, Rob Oakeshott and Bob Katter support it as they did a Notice of Motion on the same matter last year.
“If they don’t support this Bill, they will be turning their backs on their rural and regional electorates,” concluded Mr Tehan.
Media Contact: Rachelle Miller 03 5572 1100 or 0408 564 232
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