Fresh reports of students entering the sex industry to pay their way through university have added to the mountain of evidence about the inadequacy of our student income support system, which is currently under examination by a Senate inquiry, according to the Australian Democrats.
Democrats' Higher Education Spokesperson Senator Natasha Stott Despoja said the Committee overseeing the inquiry had also heard evidence of students being forced to become human guinea pigs, by undergoing medical tests, to support themselves while they study.
"It is totally unacceptable for any young Australian to be forced to resort to these desperate measures in order to secure a tertiary education," Senator Stott Despoja said.
"I initiated this important inquiry the first Senate inquiry to look solely at student income support issues to find out exactly why so many students are struggling financially during their time at university, and how their struggles are impacting on their study and lives in general.
"The inquiry, which is due to report on June 16, has heard numerous reports of anomalies in the income support system which are disadvantaging students.
"It is absurd that the Government continues to refuse to pay Rent Assistance to students on Austudy driving them further into poverty and forcing many to give up study altogether.
"The Australian Council of Social Services' submission to the Senate inquiry stated that in 1998, over 60 percent of income support recipients were in poverty compared to only 20 percent in 1972-3.
"Compounding this, the 2005-06 Budget actually produced more financial obstacles to studying, instead of tackling existing issues," Senator Stott Despoja said.
The Inquiry heard from the National Welfare Rights Centre that as a result of the Budget, parents and people with disabilities will find it even more difficult to study from July 2006 because they will no longer be eligible for the $62.40 a fortnight Pensioner Education Scheme, and will receive a lower rate of payment.
"I urge the Government to stop neglecting students who are fundamental to Australia's future prosperity starting with acting on the results of the Senate inquiry into student income support," Senator Stott Despoja said.
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