PES & SFSS Campaign
This page contains information regarding the proposed changes as well as the arguments against them. Feel free to use this information.Since its announcement in the Federal Budget 2003 it was proposed that the Pensioner Education Supplement be cut by the equivalent of 25%. There has been a lot of concern and frustration expressed by Students with Disabilities on the ANSWD discussion list as well as on a number of other disability discussion lists regarding the proposed cut to the Pensioner Education Supplement (PES) and the abolition of the Student Financial Supplement Loan Scheme.
As a result ANSWD has decided to launch a letter campaign against the proposed changes. By writing to members of Parliament it is hoped that it will bring awareness to the unfairness of these proposed changes and that they will be voted against and ultimately scrapped.
On the 16th of September the Federal Government backed down from their proposed changes to the PES, however the plans to abolish the Student Financial Supplement Loan Scheme still persist and ANSWD is still fighting this proposal.
If you wish to take part in ANSWD's letter campaign against the planned abolition of the Student Financial Supplement Loan Scheme there are four Senators that ANSWD asks that you write using these documents
The document entitled Who to write to contains instructions as well as the four Senators that ANSWD is asking you to write to. ANSWD further asks that you distribute these documents to as many people as possible that maybe interested in taking part in the campaign. The Senate does not sit again to the 7th of October and the bill will be voted on sometime after this date but we do not know when yet. Thank you.
9th of January 2004
ANSWD received an unfortunate letter from the Hon Larry Anthony MP, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, in response to our second form letter campaign to the Senate on the 13th of October 2003.
Click here for a copy of the letter37kb
10th of December 2003
MEDIA RELEASE: National Indigenous Postgraduate Association Aboriginal Corporation, titled Indigenous Students Suffer Student Loan Closure.
Click here to read the Media Release
9th of December 2003
News story in The AGE newspaper titled Govt cuts student loan scheme
www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/12/09/1070732195090.html
9th of December 2003
A story in The AUSTRALIAN newspaper titled Labor's student loan scheme doubts
www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744.html
9th of December 2003
Senator Brian Harradine has put out a media released, Government should help students with alternative loan scheme, against the government's move to scrap the SFSS.
The Media Release can be found here
9th of December 2003
Larry Anthony, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs has formerly announced that the Australian Government is closing the Student Financial Supplement Scheme from the start of next year like it was a good news story. Nothing about the 40,000 students that will lose up to a third of their income or that there is no alternative to the scheme.The media release quotes Daniel Kyriacou, President, National Union Of Students (NUS) but doesn't mention that NUS and others stipulated that there needs to be an alternative form of income for students or a grandfather clause, I guess it didn't go with the good news.
The media release can be found here
6th of December 2003
The Family and Community Services (Closure of Student Financial Supplement Scheme) 2003 Bill has not being further debated or voted on and has been withdrawn from the list of bills to be further debated this year. Even though a majority of senators has indicated that they wish the scheme to at least have a grandfather clause, Centrelink is telling people that the scheme is not available next year, so it is believed the government is making good on its promise not to renew the Commonwealth Bank's contract to underwrite the scheme.
3rd of December 2003
The SFSS was not debated today and is not down on the Senate order of business for tomorrow either.
28th of November 2003
The draft Senate legislation program for the 1st to the 4th of December has the Family and Community Services (Closure of Student Financial Supplement Scheme) 2003 Bill second reading debate scheduled to continue on Wednesday the 3rd of December in the afternoon.
26th of November 2003
The SFSS debate continued today from 9:30 AM to just before 1 PM with a further 13 senators rising to speak regarding the bill before it was again adjourned. All speakers were in opposition to the bill except Senator Kay Patterson. The speakers were -Senator Trish Crossin (Australian Labor Party, Northern Territory, Opposition) speech continued from last night.
Senator Ruth Webber (Australian Labor Party, Western Australia, Opposition)
Senator Natasha Stott Despoja (Australian Democrats, South Australia, Opposition)
Click here for the text of the speechSenator Aden Ridgeway (Australian Democrats, New South Wales, Opposition)
Senator Len Harris (One Nation, Queensland, Opposition)
Click here for the text of the speechSenator Jacinta Collins (Australian Labor Party, Victoria, Opposition)
Click here for the text of the speechSenator Kerry Nettle (Australian Greens, New South Wales, Opposition)
Click here for the text of the speechSenator John Hogg (Australian Labor Party, Queensland, Opposition)
Click here for the text of the speechSenator Linda Kirk (Australian Labor Party, South Australia, Opposition) Senator Joe Ludwig, (Australian Labor Party, Queensland, Opposition) Senator Gavin Marshall, (Australian Labor Party, Victoria, Opposition)
Click here for the text of the speechSenator Brian Harradine (Independent, Tasmania, Opposition)
Click here for the text of the speechSenator Jan McLucas (Australian Labor Party, Queensland, Opposition)
Senator Kay Patterson (Minister for Family and Community Services and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women, Liberal Party, Victoria, Government)
Click here for the text of the speech.
25th of November 2003
The Family and Community Services (Closure of Student Financial Supplement Scheme) 2003 Bill was finally debated tonight, however there were only three speakers before the debate was adjourned. All speakers were in opposition to the bill. The speakers were -Senator Mark Bishop (Australian Labor Party, Western Australia, Opposition)
Click here for the text of the speechSenator Brian Greig (Australian Democrats, Western Australia, Opposition)
Click here for the text of the speechSenator Trish Crossin, (Australian Labor Party, Northern Territory, Opposition)
23rd of November 2003
ANSWD has written a letter to The Hon Larry Anthony MP, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, regarding the abolition of the Student Financial Supplement Scheme (SFSS).
A copy of this letter can be found here
23rd of November 2003
ANSWD has written a letter to Senator Kay Patterson, the new Minister for Family and Community Services, regarding the abolition of the Student Financial Supplement Scheme (SFSS).
23rd of November 2003
21st of November 2003
The draft Senate legislation program for 24 to the 27th of November has the Family and Community Services (Closure of Student Financial Supplement Scheme) 2003 Bill scheduled to be debated on Wednesday the 26th of November in the afternoon. However with the legislation scheduled for next week including the Health Legislation Amendment Bill 2003 and the Higher Education Support Bill 2003, it is unlikely that the SFSS will be debated before the end of the week.
27th of October 2003
ANSWD has released a Media Release in response to the Youth Affairs Minister, Larry Anthony's comments on the ABC's radio program PM, regarding the abolition of the Student Financial Supplementary Loan Scheme (SFSLS) by the government no matter what the Senate votes.
A copy can be found here
16th of October 2003
The Family and Community Services (Closure of Student Financial Supplement Scheme) 2003 Bill was not debated today. Therefore the next sitting day of the Senate is the 27th of October, however it is unclear if the Bill will be debated at the next sitting of the Senate as the government does not seen to be in a hurry to debate the Bill and may just failed to renew the Commonwealth Bank's contract.
16th of October 2003
Senator Murphy Shayne is moving an amendment to the Family and Community Services (Closure of Student Financial Supplement Scheme) 2003 Bill so that students with disabilities will be able to access the scheme after the 1st of January 2004. The amendment can be found at www.aph.gov.au/bills
16th of October 2003
Some of the email responses ANSWD received in response to emails to the Senators can be found here.
15th of October 2003
The Youth Affairs Minister, Larry Anthony on the ABC's radio program PM announced today that the Federal Government is moving to close-off the student loan scheme, even if the Senate votes to keep it. A transcript of the interview can be found at :
www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2003/s967827.htm
15th of October 2003
Reply on behalf of the outgoing Minister for Family and Community Services Senator Amanda Vanstone, this time saying that the Federal government have scrapped its plans to cut the Pension Education Supplement.
13th of October 2003
ANSWD has launched an e-mail campaign against the Family and Community Services (Closure of Student Financial Supplement Scheme) 2003 Bill. We have decided to use e-mail, as there is only a short amount of time before the Bill is due to be debated. We are asking people to send the e-mail form letter to all members of the Senate.
and the
11th of October 2003
The Senate's manager of government business has at least twice this last week moved back the date for the debate on the Family and Community Services (Closure of Student Financial Supplement Scheme) 2003 Bill so that legislation on terrorism could be debated further. The Bill is now set for debate and probably to be voted on Wednesday the 15th of October. The government is running out of sitting dates, there are only 16 scheduled before the end of the year to have the Bill passed the Senate and then once again the House of Representatives. I have been told that if the Bill is not debated before the end of October, since there are only 10 sitting days after October, it is unlikely to become legislation before the end of the year.
10th of October 2003
Senator Natasha Stott Despoja, the Australian Democrats spokesperson for Higher Education, released a media release entitled: Govt must come clean on fate of Student Financial Supplement Scheme.
Apparently on Friday a rumour from government sources started that if the Senate did not vote for the abolition of the scheme the Federal government would not be renewing the Commonwealth Bank's contract, which is due to be renewed at the end of the year, to be the underwriter of the scheme. Thereby abolishing the scheme by default, the Federal government has not as yet denied this and the Democrats have released this press release demanding the government come clean with what they are planning to do.
10th of October 2003
It has come to ANSWD's attention that the Centrelink website and Centrelink in general is not advertising the government's back down regarding the PES and is still advertising that the changes to the PES will commence as of 1 January 2004. This is incorrect.
8th of October 2003
2 amendments to the Family and Community Services (Closure of Student Financial Supplement Scheme) 2003 Bill, one by Senator Natasha STOTT DESPOJA and the other by Senator Meg LEES. They can be found at
www.aph.gov.au/bills/index.htm
Both amendments allow students that are currently on the Student Financial Supplement Scheme to continue to use it until they have finished their studies.
7th of October 2003
Democrat Media Release: Democrats to protect students from Student Financial Supplement Scheme closure.
7th of October 2003
The Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) Media Release: Higher Ed Package Fails to Address Student Poverty: ACOSS Submission.
To see the full ACOSS submission go to:
www.coss.net.au/news/acoss/1065483948_14801_acoss.jsp?subsite=acoss
6th of October 2003
We have been told that the Family and Community Services (Closure of Student Financial Supplement Scheme) 2003 Bill will be debated and probably voted on some time this week. If not it should happen during the current sitting of the Senate, which ends on the 16th of October.
29th of September 2003
There has been a major Federal cabinet reshuffle and Family and Community Services Minister Amanda Vanstone has move to the immigration portfolio.
Kay Patterson is the new Community Services Minister.
25th of September 2003
ANSWD has launched a New Letter Campaign solely against the Family and Community Services (Closure of Student Financial Supplement Scheme) 2003 Bill. This is the Bill for the abolition of the Student Financial Supplement Loan Scheme. The bill is currently in the Senate and we are asking people to send the New form letter to the 4 independence in the Senate.
Please download the
and the instructions here.
17th of September 2003
The AGE Newspaper ran a story entitled Plan to cut student benefits dumped by Orietta Guerrera.
The story was originally found at
www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/09/16/1063625033503.html
16th of September 2003
Senator Brian Greig, Democrats Senator for Western Australia, media release Democrats Win for Pensioner Students can be found here.
www.democrats.org.au/news/index.htm?press_id=2983&display=1
16th of September 2003
Wayne Swan - Labour's Shadow Minister for Family and Community Services, media release regarding the Government's scrapping plans to cut the PES can be found here.
www.alp.org.au/media/0903/20005710.html
16th of September 2003
The Federal Government announced today that it was scrapping plans to cut the PES during the summer holiday period.
Senator Amanda Vanstone's take on this from the Senate Hansard can be found here.
15th of September 2003
The Family and Community Services (Closure of Student Financial Supplement Scheme) 2003 Bill was introduced in to the Senate.
11th of September 2003
The Family and Community Services (Closure of Student Financial Supplement Scheme) 2003 Bill passed the House of Representatives.
8th of September 2003
ANSWD received a rather dismal letter on behalf of Senator Vanstone regarding the changes to PES.
4th of September 2003
Two articles by David Paulin regarding the proposed changes to PES and other Federal government measures.
Why is the government attacking the disabled and their carers?
In Defence of Disabled Students
27th of August 2003
A copy of a letter to Senator Amanda Vanstone regarding the changes to the PES by Christopher Oaf
25th of August 2003
The AGE Newspaper ran a story entitled Fear over cuts to disabled pensions by Margaret Cook
www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/08/22/1061529325656.html
22nd of August 2003
ANSWD has launched a letter campaign against the proposed cuts to the Pensioner Education Supplement (PES) and the abolition of the Student Financial Supplement Scheme; we ask you to send this letter with your details to the independence, members of the opposition parties and members of the government asking them to vote against the changes to PES.
17th of August 2003
The Sun-Herald ran an article entitled Could Amanda Vanstone be the meanest person in Canberra? regarding the ongoing changes to welfare including the PES.
The story was originally found at
www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/08/16/1060936101890.html
14th of August 2003
The Sydney Morning Herald had a little piece about PES at the end of a higher education article entitled Education officials face leak inquiry. The story was originally found at
www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/08/13/1060588462065.html
13th of August 2003
Senator Amanda Vanstone's response to further questioning by the Australian Democrats spokesperson for Disability, Senator Brian Greig regarding the proposed changes Pensioner Education Supplement and Senator Greig later speech to the Senate against the changes.
A copy of the relevant section of the Senates Hansard can be found here.
12th of August 2003
Senator Brian Greig, the Australian Democrats spokesperson for Disability, released a media release opposing the proposed changes to the Pensioner Education Supplement
The media release can be found on the Democrats homepage at
www.democrats.org.au/news/index.htm?press_id=2886
12th of August 2003
Senator Amanda Vanstone's responds to the Democrats Senator Brian Greig's questions on notice from the 18th of June 2003 regarding the Pensioner Education Supplement. Senator Vanstone admitted Research to specifically address the likely impact of removal of the PES for people with disabilities studying courses longer than one year in duration has not been conducted.
A copy of the relevant section of the Senates Hansard can be found here.
11th of August 2003
The HOBART MERCURY ran a story about the proposed changes to the Pensioner Education Supplement entitled Aid cuts to oust disabled students.
The story was originally found at
www.themercury.news.com.au/common/story_page/.html
7th of August 2003
An open letter by Robbie French Re: the Pensioner Education Subsidy Scheme.
6th of August 2003
A Student perspective on the changes to the Pensioner Education Supplement and Supplement Loan by Julia Ward.
30th of July 2003
Informed that the PES supplement loan is also to be ceased as of 2004, the same as Austudy loans. Quoted here from the 'Student Update', Centrelink, July 2003, Issue 11ANSWD's concerns regarding the Federal Government's Higher Education Package - Our Universities - Backing Australia's Future
28th of July 2003
ANSWD wrote to Senator Amanda Vanstone, Minister for Family and Community Services, specifically regarding the proposed changes to the Pensioner Education Supplement, after the issue of the changes to the Supplement became a rather hot topic.
This letter also included a copy of
17th of July 2003
ANSWD wrote to the Dr Brendan Nelson, Minister for Education, Science and Training in regards to the Higher Education Package.
This letter also included a copy of
26th of June 2003
We received an email from Senator Kerry Nettle regarding the Higher Education Package and on the 8th of July 2003 we received a letter from Senator Kerry Nettle also regarding the Higher Education Package. Both of these were circulated on the ANSWD discussion list. Neither of these mentioned the changes to the PES. As of yet we have not received any response from the other opposition parties.
26th of June 2003
The Family and Community Services (Closure of Student Financial Supplement Scheme) 2003 Bill was introduced in to the House of Representatives. This is the Bill for the abolition of the Student Financial Supplement Loan Scheme.
19th of June 2003
ANSWD wrote in regards to the Federal budget and the changes to Higher Education to:The Australian Labor Party,
Jenny Macklin, Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Minister for Employment, Education, Training and Science,
Wayne Swan, Shadow Minister for Family & Community Services,The Australian Democrats,
Senator Natasha Stott Despoja, Higher Education Spokesperson,
Senator Brian Greig, Disability and Family & Community Services Spokesperson,The Australian Greens
Senator Bob Brown and Senator Kerry Nettle.Each letter included a copy of
