LOUISE MARKUS URGES BLUE MOUNTAINS STUDENTS TO SPEAK OUT ON YOUTH ALLOWANCE
02-December-2010
Louise Markus MP, Federal member for Macquarie is urging local Blue Mountains students struggling to access the Independent Youth Allowance to have their say at a Senate inquiry that is currently underway.
“So many students living in `inner regional’ areas within the Macquarie electorate are missing out on the Independent Youth Allowance because of changes the Labor-Greens alliance government made to the eligibility criteria,” said Louise Markus MP, Federal Member for Macquarie.
Labor, the Greens and Independent Senator, Nick Xenophon, disappointingly opted for the inquiry into the Independent Youth Allowance rather than fix the problem by passing a bill by the Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Education, Senator Fiona Nash.
“Julia Gillard’s Labor government’s refusal to listen to the concerns of Blue Mountains students again highlights a government that has lost its way when it comes to the local community. I strongly urge all affected students to raise their concerns to the Senate Inquiry,” Louise Markus said.
Students, their families and other concerned stakeholders have until December the 6th to make a submission to the inquiry. They can be sent to eewr.sen@aph.gov.au or to the Committee Secretary of the Senate Standing Committee on Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, PO Box 6100, Parliament House, ACT 2600.
They can also attend a public hearing in Canberra to be held on the 17th of December. The report will be released on the 9th of February next year. Details on the inquiry and how to make a submission can be found at: http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/eet_ctte/socialsecurity/index.htm.
“This inequity must be fixed. Affording tertiary education is a real issue for regional students and their families and requires real action,” said Louise Markus.
“It is hard to understand why the Labor-Greens alliance government would deny vital assistance to regional students while wasting billions of dollars on projects such as the Building the Education Revolution and National Broadband Network.
“Together with my Coalition colleagues we will keep fighting to fix this injustice for all Blue Mountains students and their families,” said Louise Markus.