Labor Backs Down on Unfair Youth Allowance Criteria

All regional students will now be on a level playing field in accessing Youth Allowance following another back-down announced by the Labor Government today.

Federal Member for Grey Rowan Ramsey said he is delighted to hear that common sense has finally prevailed in this issue. “For nearly two years we have been fighting the totally unfair changes made to the Independent Youth Allowance by the government which saw regional students discriminated against on the basis of address rather than relative disadvantage,” Mr Ramsey said.

“I have repeatedly made the point that if a student is required to leave home to access tertiary education they face costs of relocating to the city that are substantially the same no matter where they live”.

“This means that the students from all across regional Australia will now be treated equally. Towns like of Eudunda, Balaclava and Mount Gambier will be treated the same as Whyalla, Kadina and Naracoorte, as they should”, he said.

“I was disappointed the Minister thanked the Greens and the Independents for reaching resolution of this issue when in fact all of those parties abandoned country kids and if it were not for the Coalition, this injustice would have sunk without a trace”.

“For two years the government has derided us as irresponsible and ill informed, now we find we were right all along,” he said.

“The return of most of the criteria which existed before the government started tinkering with the system once again allows students to plan for a gap year to help them earn the required amount to qualify for Youth Allowance.

“I have always thought anything which helps kids to help themselves should be encouraged”.

“I am pleased with the result, but country students and their families should never have been put through this debacle during the last two years.”

Media Contact: Leonie Lloyd-Smith (08) 8633 1744

September 14, 2011