Dennis Jensen (Tangney, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

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.