Students ripped off by politicians’ mismanagement of taxpayer funds

Students are fed up with the ongoing abuse of taxpayer funded entitlements going into the privileged pockets of our parliamentarians.

Recent revelations about Sussan Ley’s misuse of taxpayer funds comes in a long string of funding mismanagement from ministers entertaining some of the most powerful positions in our country.

Frequent chartered planes, helicopters and visits to New Years parties, polo clubs and Liberal fundraiser dinners. Instead of spending our taxpayer dollars on funding healthcare, education, and welfare; our money is going into their pockets.

The Liberal Government have been going after our social services since getting into government in 2013. With threats to cut crucial funding from health, education and welfare services being at the forefront of this government’s agenda.

Most recently, cuts to income support and Centrelinks new failed automated debt recovery scheme which is going after the most vulnerable in society and has been proven to target innocent individuals who have been unfairly targeted.

In response to this, the National Union of Students will be hosting National Student Protests on March 22 in capital cities across the Country.

“The Government has justified going after education funding because of a so-called ‘debt-crisis’ and here our politicians are spending our taxpayer dollars on their own private benefits,” said NUS President, Sophie Johnston, “Social services and education funding are the bedrock of how people participate in society and NUS is calling for a move toward free education once again.”

NUS launched it’s ‘Make Education Free Again’ campaign in response to the government’s attacks on our education. “The abuse of taxpayer money by politicians is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to parliamentary spending” said education officer Anneke Demanuele “students live on $30 a day with youth allowance and the base pay for parliamentarians is $199,040. The latest scandals show the disconnect between politicians and students.”.

NUS has also launched the ‘Your Rights at Work, Uni, and Home’ campaign to fight against the broader attacks on social and welfare services that are particularly imperative for students. “Students are appalled that the government will chase innocent welfare recipients for debts they do not even owe and yet, are able to get away with the blatant misuse of taxpayer funds.” said Welfare Officer, Jill Molloy.

“Maybe it is the Government that should have their finances managed with the proposed cashless welfare cards”.
Sophie Johnston National President | National Union of Students