There was mixed student reaction to the federal budget handed down last night.
Wollongong Undergraduate Students Association (WUSA) and UOW Liberal Club president Sam Tedeschi supported budget, and claimed it would create jobs and growth, and push Australia’s economy into the 21st Century. Mr Tedeschi said the decision to delay university fee deregulation would provide the opportunity for student voices to be heard in the higher education reform debate.
UOW Labor Students President Caitlin Roodenrys argued the 2016 budget favoured the wealthy.
Ms Roodenrys took aim at the budget’s PATH job scheme, and said it was likely to have a significant impact on young people and didn’t offer a solution to youth unemployment.
The government claimed the scheme would internships for 120,000 young people, but Ms Roodenrys said the $4 per hour wage was too low.
“For places like the Illawarra which has one of the highest youth unemployment rates in the country, this is nowhere near enough,” she said.