Tom French (Moore, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Those who know me know how much I value the power of education. After qualifying and working as an electrician, I retrained as a lawyer—a journey that opened doors I never thought I'd walk through and that ultimately led me to this place. Education transforms lives. It builds skills, unlocks opportunity and helps people realise their potential, no matter where they start. But I also understand how burdensome student debt can be.

Like many Australians I felt the weight of a HECS loan, especially when trying to buy a home, start a family or simply make ends meet. Australia's HECS system is a good one. It removes the upfront cost of university and ensures your ability to study isn't determined by your postcode or your parents's bank balance. But, let's be honest, the system hasn't kept pace with reality. Debt still accumulates. Indexation can take people by surprise, and, for many, the finish line feels like it keeps moving further away. That's why I'm proud the Albanese Labor government is delivering meaningful relief, cutting every eligible student debt by 20 per cent. It's a bold and fair reform that reflects the pressures students and graduates face, and it will ensure the system works better into the future.

More than three million Australians will benefit from this reform, including over 18,000 people in my electorate of Moore who together hold more than $465 million in student debt.

That includes over 12,000 young people under 35, many of whom are just starting out in their careers. The average debt among them is around $27,000—not a small figure in today's economic climate. This is not an abstract policy; it's a local issue with real impacts.

Moore is home to Edith Cowan University's Joondalup campus, one of WA's leading tertiary education institutions and a cornerstone of the local community. Future nurses, teachers, engineers and midwives study here. Many are in Commonwealth supported places and will directly benefit from this 20 per cent HECS cut. I was recently privileged to tour, with Professor Karen Strickland, through the upgraded midwifery school, where students will also be assisted by the paid prac program.

This reform reflects the values I bring to this place: fairness, equity and the belief that education should be a ladder, not a burden. No-one should be punished for getting an education, and no-one should have to choose between building their future and affording their present. This reform is about more than just numbers on a balance sheet; it's about restoring fairness to a system that too often leaves people behind.