Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

because the participation rate of country children was going down. That is the shambles, the management of the Liberal and National parties that saw that happen to country kids. Yes, the member for Sturt is right. Their administration was a shambles. And the member for Casey was right when he said:

… it has become too easy for students from affluent backgrounds to qualify and too difficult for students from modest backgrounds …

He was right when he went on, saying that the current system:

… particularly disadvantages many students—particularly those from the country—who have to leave home to study …

The member for Casey was right about that, but that sentiment is not reflected in the current actions of the Liberal and National parties, who are determined to stop a bill and are determined to rip money out of the hands of country kids at the start of next year.

We know that universities are opposed to the strategy of the Liberal and National parties. Students are opposed to the strategy of the Liberal and National parties. All universities are opposed. The member for Murray, ring your local vice chancellor and see if your local vice chancellor supports the strategy you are on, to rip out of the hands of country kids—773 of them in your electorate—scholarship money for next year. Vice chancellors do not support the Liberal and National parties. Students do not support the attitude of the Liberal and National parties. The former education spokesperson does not support the current attitude of the Liberal and National parties. When you want a guide to what the backbench of the Liberal Party is actually thinking it always pays to consult that great journal of record, the Daily Liberal. From the Daily Liberal last week we learned that, despite the pontificating of the Leader of the Opposition and the shadow minister for education, the Liberal backbench actually likes that trade training centres program. From the Daily Liberal we now learn, in the words of the member for Parkes, that they are hoping that this student financing matter is resolved. The member for Parkes in the Daily Liberal says he hopes agreement will be achieved so that rural and remote families know where they are heading. He goes on to say:

It’s not fair for students, parents and schools to be left dangling without clear guidelines on Youth Allowance.

The member for Parkes is right. What he needs to do is take the short walk and say to his shadow minister, ‘Stop trying to rip off country kids because no one supports you doing it.’

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