Nats act to protect gap year students from Labor’s Youth Allowance changes

June 17, 2009

The fight to support regional students affected by Rudd Government changes to Youth Allowance continues with The Nationals taking action to protect those who will be immediately impacted, Federal MP Luke Hartsuyker said today.  This week Nationals Senators will be moving amendments to protect those students who are already completing their “gap year”.

The Nationals have also referred the Government’s proposed changes to a Senate inquiry.  “The inquiry will allow the Parliament to understand the full impact of the government measures on regional students and regional education campuses,” Mr Hartsuyker said.  “Thousands of regional students who are already completing their gap year are now facing the prospect of not being to study in 2010 and maybe not having the opportunity to study at all.”

The Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Reference Committee will conduct the inquiry. The terms of reference are that the committee investigates and assesses the impact of the government youth allowance measures in relation to:

1. the financial impact on rural and regional students who are attending metropolitan secondary schools, universities or TAFE;
2. the education alternatives for rural and regional students wanting to study in regional areas;
3. the implications of existing and proposed Government measures on prospective students living in rural and regional areas;
4. the short and long term impact of current and proposed Government policies  on regional university and TAFE college enrolments;
5. the adequacy of Government measures to provide for students who are required to leave home for secondary or post-secondary study;
6. the education needs of rural and regional students;
7. the impact of Government measures and proposals on rural and regional communities

“The Rudd Government has clearly not thought through the impact these changes will have on student currently completing their gap year or on regional campuses which attract students from metropolitan areas,” Mr Hartsuyker said. "Once again Labor is deserting regional Australia.”

The Rudd Government announced in the May Budget changes to the eligibility for Independent Youth Allowance.  Currently, students can receive Independent Youth Allowance if they work at least 15 hours per week for at least two years or they earn at least $19,532 in an 18 month period (since leaving school).  Under the changes they will have to work for 30 hours per week for 18 months, effectively forcing them to defer their studies for two full years or otherwise work full time whilst studying.