Lisa Chesters (Bendigo, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Deputy Speaker. It is so good to get the call. This is my first speech in the 48th Parliament, and I have to confess there was a little moment on 2 May that I thought that my last speech of the 47th Parliament about the Australia-Portugal tax treaty, whilst important, might be my last contribution to this parliament. But the good news is, because of our commitments in the election, Bendigo was held by Labor.

Our commitment to 20 per cent reduction in student debt is one of the things that helped deliver seats like Bendigo for Labor. Over 17,000 people in my electorate alone will benefit from this change. Three million Australians will benefit from this cut. Not only is it good for students; it is delivering real cost-of-living relief for three million Australians.

That is because, on our side of politics, Labor listens. Labor understands that we need to be doing more to help households with the cost of living. It is good for students; it is good for families; it is good for communities. We have heard from so many members on this side of the chamber of how this will make a real difference to household budgets. We want people to go to university. We do acknowledge that they have a contribution to pay, but it should be a fair contribution. That is the difference between our side of politics and those opposite.

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