Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Sterle for that question. The Liberal and National parties were antistudent when they were in government and they are antistudent now. Nothing has changed. The Liberal and National parties have left Australia with an inadequate system of student income support and this is simply not delivering for those who need it most. I specifically referred to people from low-socioeconomic backgrounds and students from rural and regional areas. The government’s reforms fix this. They will make student support more available for students.

Yesterday virtually every vice-chancellor in this country wrote to senators seeking their support for the government’s reforms. Vice-chancellors said that our reform package:

... properly targets less well-off students across Australia for whom income support is critical.

They said the increases to the parental and personal income thresholds will mean that more students from lower socio-economic backgrounds will be able to access the full rate of Youth Allowance. Australia’s university leaders understand, even if those opposite do not, that this package will mean that a greater number of needy students will be able to attend university and meet their upfront expenses. They understand, even if those opposite do not, that we need to ensure that publicly funded student income support is more appropriately targeted.

Students around the country are already on campus for orientation week. Thousands of them are wondering if they can afford to stay. The government wants to end this uncertainty right now. It is time for the opposition to stop using these young Australians as political playthings. It is time for the opposition to come clean and support the students of this country. (Time expired)