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June 8, 2009 – The Coalition says that the student plan is unfair and will be proposing amendments to the Federal Government’s overhaul of student income support. With the proposal, people who took gap years would become eligible and will still qualify for payments.

The Government’s changes aim to help poorer students more effectively. It has provoked backlash from some students who will miss support under the new program. The Coalition is proposing a delay of the tightening of the criteria by at least a year.

According to Opposition education spokesman Christopher Pyne, the Coalition will also propose that a new scholarship scheme be set up for country students. This can be financed by cutting the Government’s new student start-up scholarship from $2254 to $1000. The budget cut would save $696 million over four years.

The Greens have expressed that they will insist on delaying the tightening of the criteria until January 2011. Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young is concerned that the Coalition is proposing to pay for the change by reducing support to other students.

Measures to best help rural and regional students will be part of a Senate inquiry the senator will move for when the Senate resumes next week.

Source:
theage.com.au