Penny Allman-Payne (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

Minister, we've heard a lot of late about the fact that we're in a skills crisis and that we have significant skills shortages across our economy. I live in regional Queensland, and I can attest to the fact that we have a shortage of doctors, nurses and other allied health professionals. As you know, I was a teacher. I have a partner, a daughter and many friends who are teachers, and I can tell you categorically that we have a teacher shortage. When the committee heard evidence in relation to this legislation and also during the poverty inquiry, we heard from large numbers of students who told the committee that many students are choosing not to continue their studies or are falling behind in their studies because they can't afford to live on youth allowance. Does the government understand or accept that by again refusing to raise the rate of youth allowance and support for students who are studying they are in fact contributing to the skills crisis that we are currently experiencing?