Stott Despoja's amendment offers tax relief for disadvantaged research students

The Australian Democrats' spokesperson for Higher Education, Senator Natasha Stott Despoja, has today introduced a Private Member's Bill to the Senate, which will extend tax exemption status to eligible part-time scholarships, including research scholarships.

"The Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations has long been campaigning for the removal of this unjust imposition on the most disadvantaged of our research students. We are delighted that Senator Stott Despoja has introduced this amendment," announced CAPA President Stephen Horton.

"While scholarships for full-time research students are tax-free, taxation is charged on scholarships for part-time research students. This situation is perverse, as Commonwealth guidelines only allow part-time scholarships to students with significant carer responsibilities or a serious medical condition. These students, who are unlikely to be earning high taxable incomes, require tax relief," explained Mr Horton.

"This amendment will remove a long-standing impediment to equity of access to education. The justice of this amendment cannot be disputed. CAPA calls on all parliamentary members to support the amendment and remove a financial burden on those students most in need," concluded Mr Horton.