Andrew gave a speech on the cost of living written by a young constituent as part of the Raise Our Voice in Parliament campaign. You can watch or read his speech below:
‘I’m delighted to read a speech by Ella, a 22-year-old constituent, as part of the Raise Our Voice campaign, and I quote:
“The rising cost of living. We hear it every day.
Prices are rising, groceries are expensive, and housing feels increasingly out of reach. Everyone talks about it for a reason.
For many young Australians pursuing higher education, student support doesn’t reflect reality. Through Youth Allowance, financial assistance is based on parental income. On paper, this assumes parents support their children through university. In reality, those assumptions fall short.
Dependent students see their support reduced based on parental income, even when families are under financial pressure. Support for low-income families matters. But a growing group in the middle is being overlooked – families who appear comfortable on paper yet struggle with mortgages, loans, bills, and the cost of supporting children through tertiary education.
For students from regional areas, the challenge is greater. We must move away from home, pay rent, and cover living costs to access study. Parliament must review Youth Allowance eligibility and raise parental income thresholds so assistance reflects the cost of living.
We don’t control our parents’ finances, but we live with the consequences. Opportunity shouldn’t depend on whether your family falls into a gap in the system”
And so I say thanks Ella for your speech.’