Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I, and also on behalf of Senator Hanson-Young, move:

That the following matter be referred to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee for inquiry and report by 30 August 2009:

An assessment of the adequacy of Government measures to provide equitable access to secondary and post-secondary education opportunities to students from rural and regional communities attending metropolitan institutions, and metropolitan students attending regional universities or technical and further education (TAFE) colleges, with particular reference to:

(a)

the financial impact on rural and regional students who are attending metropolitan secondary schools, universities or TAFE;

(b)

the education alternatives for rural and regional students wanting to study in regional areas;

(c)

the implications of current and proposed government measures on prospective students living in rural and regional areas;

(d)

the short- and long-term impact of current and proposed government policies on regional university and TAFE college enrolments;

(e)

the adequacy of government measures to provide for students who are required to leave home for secondary or post-secondary study;

(f)

the educational needs of rural and regional students;

(g)

the impact of government measures and proposals on rural and regional communities; and

(h)

other related matters.

Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—I want to concur and say that I am happy that the Greens and the coalition have been able to join forces to put this very important issue relating to students in rural and regional Australia on the agenda and to look at the impacts of student support and at how the proposed government changes are going to impact on them.

Question agreed to.