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Adam joined Senator Sarah Hanson-Young at RMIT this week and<span lang="en-au"><font color="#2a2a2a"> released a four-point plan to help tackle student poverty and housing affordability.</font></span></p>
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<span lang="en-au"><font color="#2a2a2a">Senator Hanson-Young, Greens spokesperson on Youth and Education, says the Greens have recognised the need for action to provide real support for students. </font></span></p>
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<span lang="en-au"><font color="#2a2a2a">“Access to higher education should be a right for all, not just a chosen few,’’ Senator Hanson-Young said.</font></span></p>
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<span lang="en-au"><font color="#2a2a2a">“We know, however, that students are increasingly being forced to juggle study and work, and that for some people it is just not financially feasible.</font></span></p>
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<span lang="en-au"><font color="#2a2a2a">“According to NUS figures, 66 per cent of students are suffering from extreme rental stress, while Universities Australia data shows the average fortnightly living cost for students is $670, including $232 on rent alone.</font></span></p>
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<span lang="en-au"><font color="#2a2a2a">“There is an urgent need to provide additional help for students – and the Greens are determined to</font></span><span lang="en-au"> deliver that support, allowing</span><span lang="en-au"> for</span><span lang="en-au"> <font color="#2a2a2a">a fairer system for all.’’ </font></span></p>
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<span lang="en-au"><font color="#2a2a2a">The Greens’ plan would: </font></span></p>
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<span lang="en"><font color="#000000">■ Lift the basic fortnightly rate of Youth Allowance, which has not risen apart from indexation since it was introduced in 1998, from $371.40 to the Greens’ increased Newstart rate of $486. The proposal would give students $115 extra per fortnight at an overall cost of $680m per annum. </font></span></p>
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<span lang="en"><font color="#000000">■ Ensure universities are required to develop a plan - under the Government’s Transforming Higher Education Agenda - listing measures to boost affordable student housing.</font></span></p>
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<span lang="en"><font color="#000000">■ Put an extra $50 million into the National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS) for a specific new student division to boost student housing. This will give universities assistance to build student-specific accommodation, and allow students access to accommodation at a cost 20 per cent below the market rate.</font></span></p>
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<span lang="en"><font color="#000000">■ Require university student accommodation to operate under the same tenancy laws as other accommodation, giving students the same rights as all tenants.</font></span></p>
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<span lang="en-au"><font color="#2a2a2a">“Our plan is another example of the Greens delivering good outcomes for the community – we will give students the help they need to access tertiary education,’’ Senator Hanson-Young said.</font></span></p>
