Kerry Nettle (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a)   notes the final report of Australian University Student Finances 2006, released on 8 August 2007, highlights the urgent need to improve financial support for students; and

(b)   calls on the Government to introduce concrete measures to increase direct financial support to students including, but not limited to:

(i)   lowering the age of independence to 18, and

(ii)   providing a level of financial support that ensures all full-time students can financially support themselves during teaching periods without the need to seek further employment.

Alan Ferguson (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Is there any objection to this motion being taken as formal?

George Campbell (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Leave granted.

Labor cannot support this motion in its current form. This is not because we do not agree with its intent; on the contrary, Labor is sympathetic to the thrust of the motion’s intent. Labor believes that more can and should be done to assist students at university financially. Labor supported an earlier motion by Senator Stott Despoja on university student finances that noted the financial hardships students face and urged the government to respond to the Australian university student finances 2006 report. In this instance, Labor sought to amend this motion, but this was rejected by the senator moving the motion. Senate motions are a blunt instrument for policy development. In its current form, for example, the motion calls on the government to take a course of action for which the full financial implications cannot or have not been measured. As the alternative government, we believe this is irresponsible. The previous motion, agreed on before, more adequately reflects our approach.

Question put:

That the motion (Senator Nettle’s) be agreed to.