Labor running scared from Parliament on Youth

The Labor Government, in an unprecedented move, intends to advise the Governor-General to scrap a Bill which was passed today by the Australian Senate.

"This is an extraordinary move by a Government running scared from the Parliament because it knows it will lose the vote on the floor of the House of Representatives," Christopher Pyne, Shadow Minister for Education said today.

"The changes to Youth Allowance, which passed the Senate today, won't even be considered by the people's House. Instead, the Government will hide behind the Governor-General to avoid another embarrassing defeat," Mr Pyne said.

This is in conflict with a 2008 precedent established when the Rudd Government allowed a Coalition Bill which sought to increase the pension (that had originated in the Senate) to be presented to the House of Representatives.

"The Government has disgracefully used the Governor-General as a human shield," Mr Pyne said.

"A motion to do exactly what this Bill proposes passed the House of Representatives with crossbench support last year. The Government knows it would again and they are too weak and insipid to face the music," he said.

"Students who cannot access Youth Allowance in the inner regions are the big loser if the Government persists with this appalling tactic," Mr Pyne said.

February 10, 2011

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