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Join me for my Valedictory Address on Monday 18 November 2024, House of Representatives, at approximately 3 pm, straight after Question Time.
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It is with some poignancy that I will be delivering my Valedictory next Monday given the abolishment of the seat of Higgins. After 75 years the seat has been dissolved by the Australian Electoral Commission, announced a mere two years after Labor’s historic victory. It has been an honour to serve this community, and I welcome you to join me online here on Monday as I reflect on my experiences as the first Labor Member for Higgins and its last ever member.
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Topic: Uni and TAFE Students
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Too many young Australians feel like they are walking uphill with a rock in their backpack. We want to lighten their load and lighten their step. The Albanese Government is reforming the student loan system and other aspects of higher education to make it fairer for young Australians.
The changes are recommendations of the Universities Accord, a rigorous 12-month review of Australia’s higher education system conducted over 2022 to 2023.
Reform in tertiary education is a priority of our Government to meet the present and future needs of our economy and to improve the student experience at university.
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House of Representatives Federation Chamber 12/09/24
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Our changes to the HELP (HECS) system will be delivered in steps. The first step adjusted the way indexation is calculated so that HELP debts do not grow faster than wages in the future.
We are capping the HELP indexation rate to be the lower of either the Consumer Price Index (CPI) or the Wage Price Index. This will be backdated to 1 June 2023 meaning that those with a HELP debt will receive a credit (this legislation has passed the lower house and is currently with the Senate).
This change will fix last year’s spike in the indexation and prevent debt from outpacing wages in the future.
Once legislation passes, the ATO will automatically apply a credit for the difference between the current indexation rate and the new indexation rate to outstanding student loans.
Australians with a HELP debt can estimate their benefit using the HELP Indexation Credit Estimator here.
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A re-elected Albanese Labor Government will cut student debt by 20% – for everyone with a student loan – from mid 2025.
This will cut around $16 billion in debt, including all HELP, VET Student Loan, Australian Apprenticeship Support Loan and other income-contingent student support loan accounts that exist on 1 June next year. With our changes to the indexation formula (yet to pass the Senate), this will slash student debt to close to $20 billion.
Someone with an average HELP debt of $27,600 will see around $5,520 wiped from their outstanding HELP loans next year.
Cutting 20% off Student Loan Debt
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Range of outstanding HELP debt
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Number of Australians with a HELP debt
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Range in Debt Reduction
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$0–$10,000
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791,000
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$0–$2,000
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$10,000–$20,000
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585,000
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$2,000–$4,000
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$20,000–$30,000
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501,000
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$4,000–$6,000
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$30,000–$40,000
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380,000
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$6,000–$8,000
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$40,000–$50,000
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250,000
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$8,000–$10,000
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$50,000–$60,000
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147,500
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$10,000–$12,000
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$60,000 +
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276,000
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$12,000+
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We are further reducing the burden of student debt by raising the minimum repayment threshold for student loans and cutting repayment amounts to make the system fairer.
From 1 July 2025, the Government will reduce the amount Australians with a student debt have to repay per year and raise the threshold when people need to start repaying.
The reforms will apply to everyone who has a student debt, including all HELP, VET Student Loan, Australian Apprenticeship Support Loan and other student support loans.
The Government will lift the minimum repayment threshold from around $54,000 in 2024-25 to $67,000 in 2025-26 and introduce a system where repayments are based on the portion of a person’s income above the new $67,000 threshold.
For someone on an income of $70,000 this will mean they will pay around $1,300 less per year in repayments.
This will provide cost of living relief to Australians with student debt, allowing them to keep more of their hard-earned money in their pockets.
This reform addresses one of the many unfair changes the Liberals made when they were in government to lower repayment thresholds.
Making Repayment Threshold Fairer
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Income threshold
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Compulsory repayment amount under proposed change per year
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Reduction in compulsory repayment amount per year
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$60,000
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$0
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$600
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$70,000
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$450
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$1,300
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$80,000
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$1,950
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$850
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$90,000
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$3,450
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$600
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$100,000
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$4,950
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$550
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$110,000
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$6,450
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$700
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$120,000
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$7,950
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$450
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$130,000
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$9,550
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$200
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$140,000
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$11,250
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$650
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$150,000
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$12,950
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$550
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$160,000
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$14,650
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$550
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$170,000
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$16,350
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$650
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Above $180,000
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No change
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No change
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Our 2024/2025 Budget introduced for the first time a Commonwealth Prac Payment from 1 July 2025 to support eligible teaching, nursing and midwifery, and social work students in higher education and Vocational Education and Training as they undertake mandatory placements.
This will provide $319.50 per week to around 68,000 higher education students and over 5000 VET students who are doing mandatory pracs as part of their degrees. These prac payments will help students avoid 'placement poverty' enabling them to complete their courses.
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The Albanese Government is investing $350 million over four years to deliver Fee-free Uni Ready courses specifically to prepare students for university.
This will give more Australians a high-quality pathway into higher education without being out of pocket.
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We are committed to reforming the Liberals’ ill-advised Jobs Ready Program. Unscrambling their policy will take some time due to its complexity. We’re appointing the Australian Tertiary Education Commission to price university courses in a fair, evidence-based fashion.
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Our Free TAFE has been wildly successful, attracting over 500,000 Australians since January last year! So, we are making it permanent. The Albanese Government will make Free TAFE an enduring feature of the national vocational education and training system by funding 100,000 Free TAFE places a year from 2027, to ensure Australians have pathways into good, well-paid jobs needed by our nation.
This builds on the Government’s partnership with states and territories to deliver 180,000 Free TAFE places in 2023; 300,000 places over three years from 2024; and agreements being finalised for a further 20,000 construction and housing places.
Since Free TAFE started in January 2023, there have been more than 508,000 enrolments in courses in priority areas, including:
The Liberals gutted the vocational education and training sector, we are rebuilding it to become an asset for generations to come.
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I recently visited Holmesglen TAFE Chadstone with the Minister for Skills and Training, Andrew Giles, and the Member for Chisholm, Carina Garland.
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We met students training in building, construction management, cabinetmaking, plumbing, heating ventilation and air conditioning.
Holmesglen is an asset to our community. Thank you to their fantastic, dedicated teachers.
The new Cyber Security Operations Centre at Holmesglen TAFE is being built thanks to $300,000 from the Albanese Government.
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Are you a school leaver or do you have a school leaver in your life? Use the QR code or go here to get education, training or employment information for your life after school.
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St Roch’s Parish Primary School, Glen Iris
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It was wonderful to attend the opening and blessing of the new school building on 25 October at St Roch’s, Glen Iris.
Teachers and students showcased their long-awaited architect-designed building which provides learning and teaching spaces, an administration area and offices for staff and students.
It was a joyful event, congratulations to St Roch’s!
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Q&A at Caulfield Grammar School, Malvern Campus
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I had a blast visiting a very insightful group of Grade 5 students at Caulfield Grammar, Malvern Campus on 12 November. After unfortunately missing the opportunity to meet them when they made the trip up to Parliament House in Canberra, I finally had the chance to answer their incisive questions.
We covered topics ranging from why I got involved in politics, the achievements I am most proud of, the challenges of democracy, key actions on climate change, the importance of education and the importance of sitting down with people you do not agree with and talking it out.
I would like to thank Principal Prue Petsinis, and the fantastic teachers of the Grade 5 Class of Caulfield Grammar, Malvern for having me.
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Genuine political representation stems not just from decisions made in Canberra but through active engagement within our community. I welcome your thoughts, concerns, and ideas.
Pop into my mobile offices for a chat. See you there!
See all coming Mobile Offices here.
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I remain the Federal Member for Higgins until the next election. Please contact my office for assistance with any Commonwealth Government matters.
Address: Suite 1.03, Level 1, 261 to 271 Wattletree Road Malvern 3144
Phone: 03 9822 4422
Email address: [email protected]
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Warmest wishes till next time,
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