Senator STOTT DESPOJA (8:54 PM) —by leave—I move:

That the House of Representatives be requested to make the following amendments:

(19) Schedule 2, item 8, page 135 (lines 1 to 9), omit Steps 10 and 11.

(20) Schedule 2, item 8, page 135 (line 13), omit "Steps 8 and 10", substitute "Step 8".

(21) Schedule 2, item 8, page 135 (line 17), omit "Steps 9 and 10", substitute "Step 9".

(22) Schedule 2, item 8, page 135 (lines 19 to 26), omit paragraphs (c) and (d).

These requests for amendments remove the references in this particular section to the means test—in this case, steps 10 and 11 of the youth allowance rate calculator.

Further requests for amendments to be moved by the Democrats and the opposition will seek to remove additional references to the means test. I think some of these arguments were canvassed in second reading debates. It is on record what a debacle the operation of the means test has been as it applies under the Austudy regulations.

We have since had the Ombudsman's report and her conclusions as to some of the ridiculous provisions in that particular means testing arrangement and we seek to delete references to it.