Libby Coker (Corangamite, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

():  Cutting students' HECS debt and making TAFE permanently free is cause for celebration, because we know a quality education opens doors to new opportunities. For many young people, student debt can be a deterrent to pursuing a tertiary education, and that's why we're backing young Australians. We're committed to slashing student debt by 20 per cent, saving each student about $5,500. In my electorate alone, this means reduced debt for 18,000 graduates. The Albanese government will also lower repayment rates, because graduates shouldn't have to pay off student debt until they're earning a decent wage.

In contrast, those opposite have said this policy 'reeks of elitism'. Let's just remember: the former coalition government jacked up fees for thousands of students under the Jobs-ready Graduates program, striking at the heart of equity at access to education. We're taking a different approach. The Albanese government wants all Australians to embrace the opportunities that come with a tertiary education. We want to reduce the burden of debt, we want to reduce barriers to undertaking a qualification and we want to reduce cost-of-living pressures, particularly for young Australians who are just getting a start in life. We want to build for the future, and we will always fight for better, fairer access to education.