JENSEN ATTACKS YOUTH ALLOWANCE SCHEME CHANGES
Dr JENSEN» (Tangney) (6:43 PM) —I would like to raise the issue of
changes to the Youth Allowance Scheme. These changes will have a
serious impact on the future education of our youth and will seriously
undermine students’ capacity to study to their full potential—if these
changes allow them to study at all, which, unfortunately, in a lot of
cases, they will not.
I have received a high volume of
correspondence from young people within the Tangney electorate, as well
as from concerned parents—and rightly so. There is even greater concern
for those who live in rural and regional areas. We need to encourage
and nurture these young people, not slash their lifelines. This
so-called saving measure will take $1.8 billion out of the hands of
these young people over the next four years. They are already doing it
hard whilst trying to do their best to secure a better future for
themselves.
Many people in this House will remember how
difficult it is to study, work and survive on a minimum amount of
money. Maybe those opposite have forgotten. I suggest it is time to
remember and do the right thing by the youth of today who want to build
a strong future for themselves. They deserve it.