Government neglect of Centrelink now jeopardising Tassie students

The Independent Member for Denison, Andrew Wilkie, will discuss Centrelink delays in processing Youth Allowance applications that are forcing Hobart students to skip class and consider dropping out of university.

A University of Tasmania student who has been struggling to make ends meet while waiting more than three months for her Centrelink application to be assessed, will also be available for interview.

Mr Wilkie has been contacted by parents forced to cover the rent and expenses of adult children studying interstate who are waiting months for their youth allowance applications to be processed.

“Students have been left penniless,” Mr Wilkie said. “Some students are skipping class to work and others are considering dropping out of university and jeopardising their careers because they can’t live on thin air.

“The Youth Allowance application and payment system is badly broken. These delays happen at the beginning of every academic year. Centrelink cannot say it did not anticipate the demand. Students and families cannot be asked to wait up to six months to receive their money, particularly those who have applied for the living away from home rate and packed up their lives to move interstate or to another city. The Federal Government should be supporting young people furthering their education, not putting obstacles in their way.”