I move:

That the Senate—

(a)   notes the final report of Australian University Student Finances 2006, released on 8 August 2007, highlights the urgent need to improve financial support for students; and

(b)   calls on the Government to introduce concrete measures to increase direct financial support to students including, but not limited to:

(i)   lowering the age of independence to 18, and

(ii)   providing a level of financial support that ensures all full-time students can financially support themselves during teaching periods without the need to seek further employment.