Page 3254 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 16 August 2011
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through the creation of an interjurisdictional working group on certain concessions for student card holders. I hope that the working group will develop a paper exploring the feasibility of the card.
Some of the practical considerations include: which students will be eligible for a card, what concessions will be provided and what are the costs to government? What is the range of benefits, what form and systems are currently in place for issuing student cards and what is the cost of the hardware in creating a national system?
Again, I want to thank Mr Hargreaves for bringing this motion on back in Youth Week. I look forward to raising this with ministers in the October meeting of ministers for community and disability services.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Hargreaves, a supplementary.
MR HARGREAVES: Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. Minister, what has the reaction been from the ACT and other jurisdictions in relation to the proposal for this concession card?
MS BURCH: For Mr Hargreaves’s information, on 30 April I wrote to all community services ministers foreshadowing my intention to bring forward an agenda item on the proposal to develop a national student concession card at the next disability meeting. I have received responses from several states, and they have been supportive. The commonwealth has supported the examination by all jurisdictions of the feasibility of the proposal. New South Wales has recognised that there is no formal reciprocal arrangement for student travel and looks forward to the discussion. The Northern Territory has noted its full support of the initiative to mandate increased access to service provision to young people. Other jurisdictions have noted my intention to bring this on for discussion, and I am looking forward to that on the agenda.
I am optimistic about the chances that we can reach agreement on the proposal to explore the development of a national student card as we move forward. While the reaction from other jurisdictions is supportive, it is important that we continue to encourage the students and young people to show their support.
I again urge all students to support the petition which is available online and the National Union of Students “fair fares for students” campaign and also look to students being proactive on campus across the country to get hard copy petitions as well. I am more than happy to update the Assembly on the outcomes of the meeting that will be held in late October this year.
MR COE: A supplementary, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Mr Coe.
MR COE: Minister, given your stated interest in recognising interstate concession cards, have you written to ACTION or to the minister for transport asking why the MyWay ticketing system is not open to New South Wales veterans?
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