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Petition to right Labor wrongs against country students
23-November-2010
MEDIA RELEASE
Member for Farrer and Shadow Minister for Employment Participation, Sussan Ley,
has welcomed a petition aimed at pushing the Federal Government to change its criteria on the student ‘Youth Allowance’ scheme.
‘Youth Allowance’ is the Commonwealth payment made to students to assist them
meeting living and education costs, when studying or undertaking training, away from home.
In early 2010, Labor altered the eligibility for the ‘Independent Youth Allowance’,
requiring students from areas identified as ‘Inner Regional’ to work more hours for longer before being considered as ‘Independent’.
Announcing details of a the Federal Coalition petition, Ms Ley says “right now, these local kids must work a minimum 390 hours over a 13 week period to qualify, which is often neither possible nor feasible”.
In the electorate of Farrer, Labor’s expanded ‘Inner Regional’ zone continues to impact students and parents within the Albury, Greater Hume, Corowa, Berrigan, Lockhart and Deniliquin Council areas.
Ms Ley says “if the zoning is not changed, many students will undoubtedly be deterred from obtaining a higher education, a wrong that needs to be righted as soon as possible”.
Copies of the petition will remain until mid-January at the offices of;
· Sussan Ley MHR (Member for Farrer), 520 Swift Street, Albury (Opp Albury Entertainment Centre)
· Greg Aplin MLA (Member for Albury) 612 Dean Street, Albury (just up from the Commercial Club)
· Ampol Service Station, 10 Bow Street Corowa (Next to the Council Chambers)
· John Williams MLA (Member for Murray Darling), 228 Cressy Street, Deniliquin (Opp Post Office)
Please find interactive link to ascertain localities