Labour’s hard pitch for the student vote

Labour is promising to add more cash in students’ back pockets, as well as bringing forward its plans to deliver three free years of post-secondary school education to next year.

This morning the party unveiled its updated education policy, promising to increase the student allowance by $50 a week, as well as increasing the maximum amount a student can borrow for living costs by the same amount.  

It also plans to increase the accommodation benefit for any student allowance recipient by $20 a week.

The party has also re-released its fiscal plan, revealing it will be tipping an extra $2 billion into education over the next four years to help pay for its commitment.

Labour unveiled its post pre-election fiscal update (Prefu) fiscal plan this morning, taking into account the extra money in the government’s coffers after the books were opened last week.

When the party first unveiled its fiscal plan in July, it had allocated $4 billion to education until 2021/22 – finance spokesman Grant Robertson has revealed that figure is now $6 billion over the same period.

Labour leader Jacinda Ardern says students are struggling under the $170 living allowance, which is why the party plans to increase the maximum amount to $220 a week starting next year.

At the same time, Labour would bring forward its three years’ free education policy for one year.

“From the beginning of 2018, everyone starting tertiary education for the first time will get one year full-time study fees free.”

That will be extended to two years free in 2021 and three years free in 2024, she says.

“If conditions allow, we will accelerate this policy further.”

Labour will also restore the ability of people studying on long courses, like medicine, to get student allowances and loans.

At the moment, a student is limited to 200 weeks of claiming students allowance if they’re under 40, and 120 weeks if they’re over 40.

The investment in student support will cost $270 million per year, Labour’s policy document reveals.

“The acceleration of the three years' free policy will cost an additional $750 million over our first term and the Accommodation Benefit increase has previously been announced and included in Labour's Fiscal Plan.”