Government shuts down debate on Youth Allowance

This morning the Government shut down a debate in Parliament about its controversial Youth
Allowance changes, in what Shadow Education Minister Christopher Pyne described as a
'weak and shameful' move.

"Without raising so much as a whimper in defence of their policy, the Government used their
House of Representatives majority to shut down any discussion of their policy," said Mr
Pyne.

"This is typical of a Government whose arrogance has outstripped its ability, and a part-time
Education Minister who sat in the Chamber but was not confident enough to defend her own
policy.

"The Government is destroying the higher education dreams of tens of thousands of young
Australians in rural and regional Australia. These students don't have the opportunity that
city students do, who can stay at home while attending University - by shutting down the
'gap year' provision to gain Youth Allowance, the Government is removing access
altogether.

"This is particularly outrageous for Government Members in rural and regional electorates.
This morning, the Members for Flynn, Capricornia, Dawson, Leichhardt, Lingiari,
Wakefield, Eden Monaro, Bendigo, Ballarat, Corangamite, Hunter, MacQuarie, Page and
Richmond all voted to shut down debate on this important issue which is going to hurt
thousands of their constituents.

"But the weakest link of all is Julia Gillard. This is a Minister who sat in the Chamber as her
own policy was discussed, but who was too weak and ashamed to defend it - instead calling
on the Leader of Government Business to shut down debate.
""Australia deserves better than this part-time Education Minister"

A copy of the motion being debated is attached

August 19, 2009

MEDIA CONTACT:
Adam Howard
0400 414 833

That,

(1) the Government’s proposals for reform of Youth Allowance stand condemned for
failing to protect young Australians who had relied on the rules as they were to plan
their progress to higher education and now find themselves in limbo, unable to access
Youth Allowance and in the middle of their ‘gap year’ with their dreams of higher
education shattered;

(2) the Government’s proposals for reform of Youth Allowance stand condemned for
failing to recognise the reality of the employment market in rural and regional
Australia by demanding young Australians work thirty hours a week for eighteen
months to qualify for Youth Allowance, a requirement that is clearly beyond the
scope of most rural and regional young people, thereby snatching away their dreams
of changing their lives through higher education;

(3) the Government reconsider its reforms of Youth Allowance with a view to adopting
the Coalition’s commitment to amend the start date for the abolition of the gap year
provision from 1 January 2010 to 1 January 2011 to help those young Australians
currently on a gap year;

(4) the Government reconsider its reforms of Youth Allowance with a view to adopting
the Coalition’s commitment to look after regional and rural students with a targeted
scholarship program that will help thousands of needy students from the country who
do not qualify for Youth Allowance assistance;

(5) the Government reconsider its reforms of Youth Allowance with a view to adopting
the Coalition’s commitment to fix the ridiculous situation under the Government’s
proposal where young people in rural and regional areas will be looking for full time
work (30 hours per week) for 18 months so they can qualify as independents; and
(6) the Government recognise its failure to comprehend the disadvantage that rural and
regional communities suffer as a consequence of distance, extra costs and a weak jobs
market in reforming Youth Allowance in such a way that rural and regional students
are even further disadvantaged and isolated from mainstream educational
opportunities.

And, calls on the Members for Flynn, Capricornia, Dawson, Leichhardt, Lingiari, Wakefield,
Eden Monaro, Bendigo, Ballarat, Corangamite, Hunter, MacQuarie, Page and Richmond, to
demonstrate their support for young people in their electorates by voting with the Opposition
in solidarity with the people they represent.