Bill support vital for local students

Bill support vital for local students

Friday, 11 February 2011 00:00

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Media Releases - Kevin Anderson Media Release

Nationals Candidate for the seat of Tamworth, Kevin Anderson, is calling on the Federal Independent Member for New England Tony Windsor to declare his support the youth allowance bill.

The Coalition's Bill was passed in the senate on Thursday. It will now go to the House of Representatives but support from the Independents is needed, Mr Anderson said.

''Mr Windsor supported the issue last September when a notice of motion was passed in the House of Representatives. I hope he will again now - it means a lot to students in this area. For those keen to attend university it may be the difference whether they can afford to attend or not,'' Mr Anderson said.

The Social Security Amendment (Income Support for Regional Students) Bill 2010 was introduced by the Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Education, Nationals Senator Fiona Nash.

It aims to amend the legislation so that the same eligibility criteria for the Independent Youth Allowance applies to all regional students. The Labor government's changes to the eligibility criteria for students living in 'inner regional' areas like Tamworth make it harder to quality for the independent youth allowance.

Senator Nash has accused Labor of treating regional students as cash cows by denying them sufficient assistance for the sake of being "fiscally responsible".

"Senator Gavin Marshall's comments that the Coalition's bill would sabotage the government's fiscal responsibility shows Labor does not comprehend the impact its changes are having on regional students,'' she said.

''An education for regional students should not be sacrificed for the sake of Labor's election promise of a 2013 surplus.

"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."

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