Adelaide Student Politics

This is the last response I'm posting on this issue. If you want to argue this further, use the comments. Or a telephone.

By Mark Joyce

Dear Lavinia,

Thank you for your questions as to how I came about some of my statistics.

Firstly, you say I am incorrect when I state that currently and until 2011 the personal income test is $118 per week before income support is docked, claiming the actual figure is $236 a fortnight. There are two weeks in a fortnight, so if you divide the fortnightly threshold by two you will find the weekly threshold is $118.


Secondly, and this one is a bit more tricky to follow, you will see the net increase in students to receive youth allowance in the year of 2010 is merely 5%, well 5.32% actually, but I have rounded it down to keep it simple. The increase in the parental income test will increase the number of dependent recipients to 67 800. However, the unconscionable tightening in the eligibility requirements for students to be deemed independent will exclude 30 700 would be students, thus resulting in a 37 100 increase in Youth Allowance recipients. 37 100 of the 696 884 domestic students in Australia represents a net increase of 5% for the year of 2010.

Hope this helps,
Mark