Dear Sir,

On Monday the 21^st of February in the House of Representatives, the Member for New England Tony Windsor aided the Labor Government in throwing out an attempt by the Coalition to put independent youth allowance

in the reach of Tamworth and Armidale students immediately. Both Tamworth and Armidale are in what is called the Inner Regional Area. Unlike all other regional students throughout Australia, tertiary students living in these two centres who take a gap year must find work for an average 30 hours a week for two years to qualify for independent youth allowance. The Coalition wanted this criteria eased immediately to fall into line with other regional students who need only defer for one year and earn approximately $20,000. But Mr.Windsor and his fellow supposed Independent Member for Lyne Rob Oakeshott voted with Labor to stop debate on the bill. This means students who finished at Tamworth High School and Armidale High School and other Year 12’s in Tamworth and Armidale in 2009 are stuck with the current two year deferment and 30 hours per week requirement. They can thank Mr.Windsor and Mr. Oakeshott for being saddled with this burden.Students finishing in 2010 will now not know whether to take a gap year or not, as we have nothing definitive from the government as to what changes may take place from next year. This whole mess could have been avoided if the Labor-Greens alliance had amended its legislation to make it equitable for all regional students, rather than being forced into it by the Coalition.