No Budget relief for students

by Lyndsey Wetton

May 14, 2008

NIL change in welfare conditions for Australian uni students means many will continue to feel the pinch economically, following the new Labor government’s handing down of its first federal budget on May 13.

The budget included $91 million toward better enhancing customer service for Centrelink recipients, but there was no mention of increasing welfare payments to students on Youth Allowance or similar payments.

According to the December edition of Melbourne University publication Poverty Lines: Australia, a single person receiving maximum welfare plus rent assistance, and with no other form of income, receives $267.60 per week, which is $106.51 below the poverty line.

Many Murdoch University students, especially those living away from home, are under financial pressure and are upset the new budget did not deliver anything to help them out.

“I find it really hard to find a medium,” said Terri Russell, 20. “There’s only so much I can earn in a fortnight.

“There’s no point me working sometimes, because Centrelink is going to take 50 per cent of what I earn anyway.”

Ms Russell said she’s only able to earn $580 a fortnight, and $300 of this goes on rent alone.

Anna Taylor is a Biomedical Science student at Murdoch University who is originally from Bunbury.

“I have come from the country and have to support myself entirely,” said Ms Taylor. “I have 26 contact hours at uni and with study on top of that, I don’t have time to work to make up for what Centrelink doesn’t give me.”

Federal human services minister Joe Ludwig was unavailable for comment.