May 20, 2009
The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester is calling on the Federal Government to guarantee that no students undertaking a ‘gap’ year will be worse off under the Budget changes to the independent Youth Allowance which are planned to come into effect on January 1, 2010.
Mr Chester is also urging local students and their parents to sign a petition which will be presented to Parliament during the current sitting. The petition seeks to reverse the budget decision which changes the eligibility criteria for the independent Youth Allowance and makes it harder for regional students to attend university.
Mr Chester said students, parents and teachers who had contacted his office by phone and email were angry and frustrated with the changes.
“Students feel like they’ve been lied to by the Rudd Government,” Mr Chester said.
“They followed the rules and now they are stranded in the middle of a gap year which doesn’t help them achieve their university dreams. Minister Julia Gillard claims that the new criteria will allow students to access other forms of assistance – if she is so confident about that claim, the government should guarantee all gap year students that they won’t be worse off under the new arrangements.
“Many students have already deferred their studies for a year so they can qualify for Youth Allowance and afford to move to Melbourne to study – but removal of the current independence criteria is retrospective.
“These students don’t have the option of working for another year to meet the new rules as most tertiary institutions allow a deferral of only one year.”
Mr Chester said the changes were another barrier for country students seeking to undertake tertiary studies.
“This creates stress and uncertainty and puts a further cost burden on Gippsland families, who already struggle with the high costs of supporting a student living away from home,” Mr Chester said.
“Gippsland families not only have the expenses of supporting their children through university – they also have to pay a second set of household bills, including rent, water, gas, electricity and so forth.
“This decision demonstrates a complete lack of understanding of how students from regional areas and their families are working together to help young people achieve their academic dreams.”
Mr Chester will take the fight to Canberra when Parliament resumes next week, and has asked local students and their families to sign a petition to strengthen the campaign.
“Gippsland students and their families can register their frustration at these changes by signing this petition and returning to me as soon as possible, so that I can present the case in Canberra,” Mr Chester said.
“Copies of the petition can be obtained from my offices in Sale or Traralgon or phone 1300 131 785 and we can send one out to you.
“They can also be downloaded from my website www.darrenchester.com but must be printed – as only original signed copies will be accepted by the Parliament.”
Mr Chester has also invited Gippsland students and their families to write to him and he will take their messages to Canberra.