The Labor Government has abandoned thousands of young people by abolishing Commonwealth Scholarships and refusing to negotiate on a replacement, Liberal Senator Guy Barnett said today.
“Federal Deputy PM Julia Gillard has refused to take up the Coalition’s offer to separate the scholarships from the Bill and has decided to give up on the Bill completely until next year,” Senator Barnett said.
“Minister Gillard should apologies to all those students who will miss out on the scholarships. It is a travesty. This means that as of January 2010 more than 150,000 students will not receive a $2254 start-up scholarship or $4000 relocation scholarships due to Labor’s legislative mismanagement and refusal to negotiate.
“The Youth Allowance bill contained a number of worthwhile measures that the Coalition supports. However we will not allow the Government to increase funding to one group of students only by ripping away the higher education dreams of country students.
“The Minister has made no attempt at any stage to pick up the phone and discuss the Coalition’s concerns in an attempt to secure passage of this legislation.
“The Coalition cannot support legislation that cuts out the ‘gap year’ pathway to Independent Youth Allowance for students who must leave home to attend University, unless a realistic alternative provision is put in place.
“We cannot on principle support legislation that is retrospective in its effect. Thousands of students and parents are distraught over this proposal.
“The Labor Government is trying to change the rules half way through the game for those who decided to take a gap year in order to earn Independent Youth Allowance based on the advice of Centrelink officials and their schools’ careers advisers.
“Tasmanian rural and regional students in particular are suffering because of the Government’s mismanagement of this issue.
“Australia deserves better than a part-time Education Minister,” Senator Barnett said.