David Shoebridge (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

The hypocrisy of Labor to say that the reason they won't support these Greens' amendments to implement Labor policy to cut 20 per cent of debt is it needs to go to an inquiry because it's complex. This is the same Labor government that's ramming through three aggressive attacks on migration law with a 24-hour inquiry into migration law. They're willing to smash the rights of people seeking asylum without an inquiry, but they're not willing to cut student debt without an inquiry. This is the same Labor government that's ramming through a deal with Peter Dutton, shaking hands with the opposition leader to put through the most self-interested donations law reforms without an inquiry. They're willing to give themselves millions of dollars of additional funding without an inquiry but they won't cut student debt without an inquiry.

Do you know what? Labor do have a record on student debt. Labor created student debt. Labor created HECS debt. It was brought to you by a Labor government, by a bunch of entitled Labor politicians who had a free university education. Labor invented the entire concept of student debt for Australia. They put it in a ribbon—it's brought to you by Labor. Yes, Labor has a very clear tradition on this. If anyone's wondering about where their debt came from, just remember this: Labor invented student debt. Labor created HECS debt. A bunch of Labor politicians who got free education came up with the idea of putting this generation of students into debt, and now they won't even join with the Greens to give it a haircut of 20 per cent, which is their policy. Shame on Labor!