20Universities Accord (Student Support and Other Measures) Bill 2024
The order of the day having been read for the resumption of the debate on the question—That the bill be now read a second time—And on the amendment moved thereto by Mr Fletcher, viz.—That all words after “That” be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:
“whilst not declining to give the bill a second reading, the House notes that:
(1)the Government’s economic mismanagement and high inflation has resulted in escalating student debt for some three million Australians with a HELP (Higher Education Loan Program) loan;
(2)the proposal to change HELP indexation to the lower of the wage price index or the consumer price index would still result in student debts increasing by 11.1 per cent since June 2022, with no date by which student debt credits will be applied or refunds paid;
(3)whether it is student debt, housing or paying bills, Australians continue to suffer acute cost of living pain under this Government;
(4)the Government has failed to detail eligibility criteria for the Commonwealth Prac Payments or how students will receive those payments, noting that students studying in other areas of workforce shortage such as occupational therapy, psychology and veterinary studies have been excluded from the scheme;
(5)the Government’s decision to mandate 40 per cent of the Student Services and Amenities Fee revenue be directed to student-led organisations, including student unions, associations and guilds, lacks any transparency measures to ensure money is spent on services which support student welfare; and
(6)the bill has been referred to the Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee for inquiry to report by 3 October 2024”—
And on the amendment moved thereto by Mr Bates, viz.—That all words after “reading” be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:
“the House:
(1)notes that:
(a)students are being shackled by a lifetime of debt which is making the cost of living crisis worse, locking people out of the housing market, causing people to delay having families and crushing dreams of going to university;
(b)the Government’s plan to provide student debt relief will still see student debts rise by 11.5 per cent in their first term and arts degrees costing over $50,000;
(c)the student debt system cannot be fixed because student debt should not exist and higher education, like education at every level, is an essential public good that should be free, universal and provided by the government;
(d)mandatory unpaid placements are causing students to forego paid work, choose between groceries, rent and medicine, drop out of universities and are taking an immense toll on students’ health; and
(e)students experiencing placement poverty need urgent relief and should be paid for every hour of work they are required to do as part of their degree, at least at minimum wage, not a lesser supplementary amount; and
(2)calls on the Government to wipe all student debt, make university and TAFE free, and pay all students doing mandatory placements at no less than minimum wage rates”—
And on the amendment moved thereto by Ms Daniel, viz.—That all words after “House” be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:
“(1)notes that:
(a)many degrees have increased in cost well above CPI resulting in punitive HELP debts placing additional financial burden on Australians in the midst of a cost of living crisis;
(b)in 2023, soaring inflation resulted in a HELP indexation rate of 7.1 per cent;
(c)the indexation of HELP debt prior to repayment each financial year unnecessarily increases the cost of debt repayments for graduates and young Australians; and
(d)HELP debt is considered by banks in assessing eligibility for mortgages and loans, creating additional barriers for graduates and young families as they try to buy a home; and
(2)calls on the Government to calculate HELP debt indexation after the due date for individual tax returns each year”—
Debate resumed.