The Senate's agreement on Youth Allowance only marks the beginning of the campaign to achieve equality for student income support, according to Green Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.

Senator Hanson-Young, Greens Education spokesperson, says the Greens secured a $20 million taskforce in the package to look at ways of delivering income support to rural and regional areas.

"Thank goodness this legislation has finally passed through the Senate, with just 24 hours to go for the Parliament to agree without missing the cut-off for students to drop courses without paying fees,'' Senator Hanson-Young said.

"At least the scholarships have been passed, and the positive aspects of the package will now provide income support to some extra students.

"But let's call this what it is - a hastily assembled compromise which has left Australia's student income support system looking like a dog's breakfast.

"The choice of which areas qualify for assistance and which do not seems totally random. Why should places like Albury and Orange, Ballarat and Bendigo, Mackay and Rockhampton, Mt Gambier, Bunbury and Launceston all miss out, even though students from those areas will still be forced to move long distances out of home to access studies?

"Of course students who have to move cities will miss out too. It's not fair, it's not equitable, and we must do better in future.''

The Greens negotiated with the Government to secure the taskforce as part of the party's commitment to help students in rural and regional areas.

"We believe that the taskforce is a positive step that provides the best way of dealing with Youth Allowance in future to ensure it is fair and equitable for all,'' Senator Hanson-Young said.

"The bottom line is that young people should not be forced to delay their studies to qualify for the support they need, regardless whether they live in a regional city or town, a remote Outback area or have to move cities to access university. The Greens will continue to fight for that outcome.''