THE HON JULIA GILLARD MP
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER
Minister for Education; Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations;
Minister for Social Inclusion.
MEDIA RELEASE
17 November 2009
Opposition backs away from 13,500 Western Australian students
Parliamentary Secretary for Western Australia Gary Gray today called on the Opposition to help
students attend university in 2010 by passing the Government’s Youth Allowance Legislation, due to
be introduced in the Senate this week.
Mr Gray joined Minister for Education Julia Gillard and peak university and student bodies calling for
the bill to be passed this year so that more than 13,570 WA students receive their $2,254 start-up
scholarship in 2010.
“University and student bodies have endorsed the Government’s new scheme, but the Liberal and
National parties want to continue their old wars against students. Their current plan would leave WA
students approximately $50 worse off per fortnight,” Mr Gray said.
“Our proposed changes will see Youth Allowance targeted at those families that need assistance
most. Under the existing system, 18 per cent of students receiving Youth Allowance are from families
with incomes of more than $150,000, 10 per cent above $200,000 and 3 per cent have family
incomes above $300,000.”
Key elements of the proposed Labor changes include:
All students who receive Youth Allowance will receive a $2,254 start up scholarship every
year.
The parental income test will be raised so that families with two children studying away
from home can earn more than $140,000 before their allowance is cut completely.
Students who choose to move home to study may be eligible for an additional relocation
scholarship, worth $4,000, in the first year of study and $1,000 each subsequent year.
From 1 July 2012, students will be able to earn $400 a fortnight (up from $236) without
having their payments reduced.
The age of independence will reduce progressively from 25 years to 22 years by 2012,
which will see an estimated 7,600 new recipients of the independent rate of allowance.
“The Coalition’s plan slashes the $2,254 annual start-up scholarship for students to $1,000 -
effectively ripping $162 million from rural and regional areas over four years. “ Mr Gray said. “Their
replacement “Rural Scholarship” would return only $120 million to the same students
“That equates to a reduction of almost $50 a fortnight for each of the more than 13,570 Western
Australian students who will receive a scholarship under Labor’s plan.”
Mr Gray’s office – Astrid Serventy:
0407 383 117
Deputy Prime Minister’s Press Office: 02 6277 7758
NEWS 
