Gordon Reid (Robertson, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Recently we had the Prime Minister visit the beautiful Central Coast to meet with staff and students at Gosford Hospital. We had the privilege of meeting nurses, doctors and support staff on J8, the cardiology and coronary care unit. It was an opportunity to observe these hardworking Central Coast healthcare professionals at work. A big thankyou to Meg Pendrick and Kelly Falconer, two amazing nurses on the on the Central Coast; Scott McLachlan, the CEO of Central Coast Local Health District; and Dr Maged William, the head of cardiology. Thank you for your hospitality.

The staff and students, while we were there, were quite interested in the changes that we are going to be making in the higher education space, including paid placement, and cheaper medicines. With our HECS-HELP relief for students, the government is going to cut $3 billion in student debt for more than three million Australians. The Albanese Labor government is capping the HELP indexation rate to be lower than either the consumer price index or the wage price index. This will be backdated to 1 June 2023, meaning those with a HELP debt will receive a credit. It means that HELP debts will never grow faster than wages. This is going to support over 15,000 people in the electorate of Robertson.

With our cheaper medicines policy, we've already saved a lot on the Central Coast—over $2 million. Now, with further freezes to the co-payment, the people of Robertson will save even more.