Cassandra Fernando (Holt, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Higher education is essential for our economy and the future of our nation. Gough Whitlam said it best in his 1969 election pitch:

We are all diminished when any of us are denied proper education. The nation is the poorer—a poorer economy, a poorer civilisation because of this human and national waste.

Today, 36 per cent of our workforce holds a university degree. Our education system is strong, but we can and must do more to make it even better. The future of Australia hinges on our ability to educate and empower the next generation. It is not just about filling classrooms; it is about equipping our people with skills and knowledge and the opportunity to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

In 2022, the Minister for Education, Jason Clare, initiated a generational review of the higher education sector. This ambitious review, known as the Australian Universities Accord, involved extensive consultation with students, industry leaders, universities and staff across the sector. The goal was clear: to create a fairer and more equitable higher education system. The accord set an ambitious target to have 80 per cent of the workforce achieve a tertiary qualification by 2050. This is not just a great aspiration; it is a practical and necessary goal that will help Australia remain competitive in a global economy. Achieving this target will add an estimated $240 billion to our economy by 2050—a significant boost that will benefit all Australians.

The Universities Accord (Student Support and Other Measures) Bill 2024 is a crucial step forward in realising this vision. This bill addresses four key priorities outlined in the Universities Accord. It will wipe out approximately $3 billion of HECS debt for over three million Australians. Education should be a pathway to opportunity, not a road to a lifetime of debt. This is why Labor is wiping out $3 billion in student debt and changing the indexation of loans so that student loans will never increase faster than wages. For someone with an average HECS debt of about $26,500, this change will mean a reduction of around $1,200. For someone with a debt of $45,000, it will mean a reduction of around $2,000. This is not just about numbers; it is about providing real relief to real people. In Holt alone, this change will benefit 19,600 people with student debt.

This week, the Manager of Opposition Business stated that the coalition welcomes an initiative to combat escalating student debt. While it's heartening to hear this support now, it is unfortunate that he did not show this concern when he voted with the previous government to support the Job-ready Graduates Package, which increased the cost of arts, business and commerce degrees. This was the peak of a series of attempts by the previous Liberal-National government to deregulate university fees and make students bear more of the cost. Every time Labor have been in government, we have pursued policies to support students. Every time the coalition have been in power, they have waged an ideological war against our higher education system, making it more expensive and less accessible for students. We believe that education is a public good, not a privilege reserved for the few. This is why Labor governments have always supported policies which enable more students to study and which support them to complete their degree.

For the first time, the Commonwealth will introduce a prac payment to support teaching, nursing, midwifery and social work students during their placements. These are fields in high demand, which focus on caring for others—caring for our young Australians, caring for our mental wellbeing, caring for our mothers during childbirth and caring for the sick. These students are the future of our essential services, and it is our responsibility to support them as they prepare to take on these crucial roles. I have spoken to hundreds of students across Victoria about the need for this payment. From RMIT to Deakin, from Monash to Melbourne, from Swinburne to VU and from La Trobe to Federation University, students have shared their struggles to afford basic essentials like petrol and rent while trying to complete their studies. Many of these students must dip into their savings to undertake hundreds of hours of unpaid work, which is particularly challenging for those who live away from home and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. This is why we are making this change. From July 2025, these students will be paid $319 per week while undertaking their placements. This payment will not only provide much-needed financial support but will also encourage more students to pursue these fulfilling and essential careers.

There is a significant jump between high school and university, and it is our duty to ensure that these students are adequately prepared for the transition. This bill uncaps fee-free university-ready courses. These courses serve as a bridge between school and university, helping students gain the skills they need to succeed in higher education. They teach students writing, communication, maths and other foundational skills that they need to prosper at university, whether they do not achieve the entry score or are looking to upskill later in life. The Albanese Labor government is investing $350 million to expand these programs. This fund will allow 40 per cent more students to undertake these courses by 2030 and will double the number of students by that time. These programs are especially important for the underrepresented and disadvantaged communities who may otherwise be locked out of our higher education system.

Students know what is best for students, which is why our government is guaranteeing funding for student-led organisations. These organisations provide vital services on campus, including independent advocacy, training, financial aid, legal services and wellbeing programs like food banks and mental health outreach. They are run by students for students. They are the best informed and equipped to represent the interests and needs of the student body. Student organisations have done fantastic work over the last decade, bringing vital issues on campus to light. They have held institutions accountable when they have failed to act on issues such as sexual assault and harassment. In 2008, the former minister for youth Kate Ellis released a report into the impact of voluntary student—

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