Madonna Jarrett (Brisbane, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm proud to stand here part of the government that is committed to making education affordable and accessible no matter where you live or your financial circumstances. As I mentioned in my first speech, my mum, Luella, who still lives in my electorate, couldn't fulfil her dreams to become a teacher because her parents couldn't afford it. My twin sister, Chris, and I were the first in the family to attend university, and this would not have happened had university not been affordable. As one of eight kids and dad working full-time as a sparky, there was no way my parents could ever have been able to afford for us to go to university. That's why I'm ever so grateful for getting the opportunity to study and I'm ever so grateful to the Labor government.

Brisbane has the third-highest concentration of people with student debt, at more than 34,000. While campaigning, I heard from many young people and their parents about how they were so excited by the opportunity that study could bring to them but also that it was a barrier for them financially. Education has the power to change lives, and as the government we have a responsibility to make sure education isn't a barrier to living a decent life. Labor stands for a fairer society for all no matter where you come from, and our commitment to reducing student debt is a real part of that.