CONCERNS ABOUT CHANGES TO YOUTH ALLOWANCE
The Member for Berowra, Philip Ruddock MP is concerned about how the tightening of the criteria for establishing independence under the Youth Allowance will impact on local families.
“The Youth Allowance is a vital avenue of income support for students and this change, which takes effect from the start of next year, will mean that some people currently working towards meeting the criteria will have their plans for further study thrown into disarray.”
“This is of particular concern to young people in the electorate of Berowra, many of whom have to relocate to other parts of the state or interstate to pursue further study,” Mr Ruddock said.
“I understand the expenses involved in pursuing further study, particularly if forced to move away from home. Many local parents understand that it is considerably more difficult for young people from regional areas who often do not have the option to stay with their parents or relatives while studying.”
“I know that many families in the electorate are struggling, they work hard to offer their children post-secondary opportunities. The Youth Allowance provides some support to assist their children to go away to University or TAFE,” Philip Ruddock said.
“It seems that despite the Prime Minister’s rhetoric about supporting working families, he and the Treasurer really have no idea what life is like for local working families.”
“I am concerned that these changes will add further pressure to the already stretched budgets of my electorate or worse that the stricter Youth Allowance criteria may deter many young people in the region from pursuing further study, purely because they can not afford to do so,” Mr Ruddock concluded.