Government Attempts To Rebuild Student Trust Fall Flat

Claims in Parliament today that the Minister of Social Services is working with student leaders to alleviate student suffering after National’s withdrawal of the Emergency Unemployment Benefit (EUB) are misleading.

The Aotearoa Tertiary Students Association (ATSA) and the New Zealand University Students Association (NZUSA) met with the Hon Steve Maharey once in February this year where they clearly communicated to the Minister that the only acceptable policy was the immediate return of the EUB.

“The Minister has ignored that advice and to claim in Parliament that the Government was rebuilding its relationship with students while at the same time ignoring their unequivocal advice on this issue is insulting,” said David Penney, ATSA President

“We want to make it very clear to Mr Maharey that an end to Government discrimination against unemployed students is our top policy priority. We will not rest until universal access to the Emergency Unemployment Benefit is reinstated,” said Sam Huggard, NZUSA Co-President.

“We share the Government’s goal of getting as many students into jobs over summer. However, increases in Student Job Search funding will not create the 10,000 extra jobs needed. The Government therefore has a responsibility to provide a safety net for those students who will inevitably be unemployed this summer,” said David Penney.

The Government also claimed in Parliament today that the events of last summer (eg students relying on foodbanks) would not be replicated due to its extra spending on Student Job Search.

“The fact is that only $200,000 extra money is being committed to find new jobs. This means there will still be students unable to find work and ineligible for a benefit. Just like last summer under National, students this summer under Labour will have no safety net to rely on,” said Sam Huggard.

ENDS For more comment contact:

David Penney Sam Huggard

National President Co-President

Aotearoa Tertiary Students Association New Zealand University Students Assoc 04 498 2507 (work) 04 498 2500 (work)

025 756 526 (cell) 025 86 86 73 (cell)

David Penney
National President Aotearoa Tertiary Students' Association (formerly APSU) PO Box 10 191 Wellington New Zealand Phone 04 498 2507 Mobile 025 756 526 Fax 04 499 6554

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