Russell Broadbent (McMillan, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, with your indulgence for a moment before I ask my question to the Deputy Prime Minister, I recognise that this is a terrible day for Moe, Hazelwood North and Morwell and for the families that have been affected by the Papua New Guinea tragedy. I commend the government for all that they have done in response to this. We recognise the whole-of-government response has been amazing and excellent. With those few words, the work of the House goes on.

I refer my question to the Deputy Prime Minister in her capacity as the Minister for Education. I refer to the findings of the Victorian parliamentary inquiry into geographical differences in the rate in which Victorian students participate in higher education and I specifically refer to the comments made in relation to the proposed changes to the criteria for eligibility for the independent rate of youth allowance. The report says:

The Committee believes that this change will have a disastrous effect on young people in rural and regional areas.

Given the all-party inquiry was chaired by Ballarat Labor MP Geoff Howard, does the minister agree that the changes proposed by the Rudd government will have a disastrous effect on young people in rural and regional areas?

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