September 17, 2015
Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester says he’s optimistic regional families will have access to a better system of student income support following the renegotiation of the Coalition agreement.
The Nationals sought assurances from new Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull as part of negotiations this week.
Speaking in Parliament, Mr Chester said he was confident the Coalition Government will work in a constructive way to achieve the best possible outcome for regional students to allow them to have the same opportunities as those living in the city.
“I am very heartened by the fact that the work by the responsible Coalition ministers is underway,” Mr Chester said.
“They have been working with regional MPs to develop a fairer system in the future. I am confident we will see changes to this system as a result of this week’s renegotiated Coalition agreement.
“One of the key points of the coalition agreement renegotiated this week was to implement a plan to overcome financial barriers in accessing higher education for rural, regional and remote students.
“I congratulate the new Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, and the Deputy Prime Minister, Warren Truss, on their negotiations this week.”
Mr Chester said the issue of youth allowance remained unfinished business for the Australian parliament.
“This is one of the most significant and pressing issues for many families in Gippsland, particularly at this time of year as VCE students in our community approach their end-of-year exams and are very conscious of achieving the best possible result,” Mr Chester said.
“There is still enormous uncertainty for those students, even if they achieve the results they desire, about whether their families can actually afford to send them away from home to attend a university of their choice.
“Regional MPs understand that the current system, a system we inherited from the previous government, is still too confusing and unnecessarily bureaucratic in its structure.”
