May 25, 2009
The campaign to restore the independent Youth Allowance to Gippsland students undertaking their ‘gap’ year has stepped up with The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester raising the issue in Federal Parliament.
Speaking in Question Time today, Mr Chester called on the Minister for Education Julia Gillard to guarantee that students currently on their gap year would not be financially penalised as a result of the Rudd Government’s proposals.
The Minister refused to provide the guarantee and sought to discredit the campaign by students, parents, teachers and local MPs as ‘scaremongering’.
“Julia Gillard is playing politics with the hopes and aspirations of the nation’s students,” Mr Chester said.
“She is refusing to listen to reason, despite the overwhelming reaction from the education sector that students who are currently on their gap year should be protected from the changes proposed in the Federal Budget.
“The Minister is completely out of touch with the reality faced by thousands of country families.
“It is extremely difficult to pay all of the relocation costs to establish a second home for regional students who must move away to attend their chosen course.
“The existing independent Youth Allowance provisions were a lifeline for many country students who wouldn’t be able to afford to attend university under the revised proposals.”
Mr Chester and several supporters are currently collecting signatures on a petition which will be tabled in Parliament later this week.
“The first batch of petitions has already arrived at my office and there are about 500 names on the list after just two days,” Mr Chester said.
“It reflects the level of concern within the community and I will continue to argue the case in Parliament on behalf of Gippslanders and students throughout regional Australia.”