Media Release For immediate release - 30 July 2002

Student Allowances Real Election Winner

"In an overwhelming show of support for students 65% of the new parliament has been voted in on the promise of increasing the number of students who are entitled to a living allowance. All of Labour's potential partners want a universal student allowance.

"Labour promised to widen allowance eligibility to "tens of thousands" more students by raising the parental income threshold where students are ineligible for an allowance. Likely coalition partners, the Greens, want a universal living allowance for all students aged 16 or over at the same level as the unemployment benefit, as well as reintroducing the summer benefit for students. Progressive Coalition also advocates free tertiary education, including a universal student allowance. Labour's other coalition possibility, United Future, also want a universal allowance for all students aged 20 or over, as well as increases in current bursary payments. Even Labour's least likely partner, NZ First, want to phase in universal allowance and reintroduce the summer benefit. "This result demonstrates that despite being largely ignored during the election campaign student allowances are vastly more popular than anti-GE, crackdowns on crime, and immigration.

"This is no surprise to OPSA - a Colmar Brunton survey held before the election shows 80% of people support the introduction of a universal student allowance, the same percentage as when the same survey was held in 2000.

"OPSA challenges the new government to take decisive action against the biggest cause of student debt and introduce universal allowances within its three-year term - starting next year by lowering the age of eligibility, raising the parental income threshold, and creating a mechanism of taking the number of children in a family into account when assessing this threshold.

Phil Baskerville, OPSA President

Further information

Phil Baskerville President 477-6974 / 021-021-610-056 opsaprez@tekotago.ac.nz

Michelle Watt Vice-President 477-6974 / 021-1121789 opsa@tekotago.ac.nz

Mark Baxter Student Liaison Officer 477-6974 / 021-1146-753 mbaxter@tekotago.ac.nz

© Scoop Media