Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

Thanks again, Senator Sheldon. The Australian Universities Accord:final report, which was released in February this year, included 47 recommendations to reform the higher education sector for the next decade and beyond. Students and unions highlighted the very real concerns about placement poverty and cost-of-living pressures. The big hike in HECS-HELP debt last year hit a lot of Australians hard, particularly a lot of younger Australians. We've heard the message and we're acting. We want younger Australians to reach their potential, earn a good wage and have fulfilling careers.

We also want to help fix the skill shortage, which festered under those opposite, to make sure Australia has the skills and services we need to thrive. That's why the Albanese government will provide relief for students while protecting the integrity and value of the HECS-HELP system and establish a Commonwealth prac payment. We need more nurses, more midwives, more teachers, more early childhood educators and more social workers, and the Albanese Labor government will help deliver them.