Monday, August 9th, 2010

Barry Haase announces youth allowance policy

Local member Barry Haase says his party would relax the work test for independant youth allowance.

Mr Haase is the endorsed Liberal candidate for Durack.

You can read his statement here:

M E D I A R E L E A S E
09 August 2010
THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS TO BENEFIT FROM LIBERAL YOUTH ALLOWANCE IMPROVEMENTS
Barry Haase, Federal Member, today welcomed the Liberal Party announcement that a relaxed work test for the independent youth allowance would apply to students in the inner regional areas.
“This is great news for students in Durack,” said Mr Haase.
“A lot of Durack kids, because of the geographical location of their family home, are required to relocate for full‐time study. More generous workforce participation criteria for independence will apply for Youth Allowance and ABSTUDY. This will be in addition to the option to qualify immediately through the parental income test.”
From the beginning of academic year 2011, these young people will be able to qualify under any of the three elements of the workforce participation criterion for independence, where:
•
their family home is in a location categorised under the Australian Standard Geographical Classification (AGSC) as Inner Regional Australia, Outer Regional Australia, Remote Australia or Very Remote Australia; and
•
their parents’ income is less than $150 000 per annum.
This means that students who elect to take a gap year and work between high school and starting tertiary studies will now again be able to qualify for the independent youth allowance.
Mr Haase said Labor changed the rules for the Independent Youth Allowance leaving thousands of students without the opportunity to access tertiary education. Despite caving into pressure from us, Labor still left 20,000 students in inner regional areas disadvantaged.
Media Release Barry Haase MHR
“If the Liberal Party is elected to Government and in consultation with students, parents and school organisations, we will establish a new integrated program to support families with children forced to leave home for tertiary studies, especially from rural and regional areas.
“In the meantime these new arrangements will ensure that Durack students get a fair go from the education system”, said Mr Haase

Tags: Education, Youth

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