Mehreen Faruqi (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I move Greens amendment (1) on sheet 3368:

(1) Schedule 1, page 3 (line 1) to page 22 (line 30), omit the Schedule, substitute:

Schedule 1 — Discharging student debt

Part 1 — Amendments of the Australian Apprenticeship Support Loans Act 2014

Australian Apprenticeship Support Loans Act 2014

1 Subsection 27(1)

Omit "on the day the instalment is paid", substitute "on the relevant day".

2 After subsection 27(1)

Insert:

(1A) For the purposes of subsection (1), the relevant day is:

(a) unless paragraph (b) applies—the day the instalment is paid; or

(b) if the instalment should have been paid on or before 1 June 2025 but was paid after 1 June 2025 as a result of an administrative error—1 June 2025.

3 After section 27

Insert:

27A Discharge of AASL debts incurred between 1 January and 1 June 2025

An AASL debt a person incurs in the period beginning on 1 January 2025 and ending on 1 June 2025 is taken to be discharged.

4 After section 37

Insert:

37A Discharge of accumulated AASL debt

An accumulated AASL debt a person incurs on 1 June 2025 is taken to be discharged immediately after it is incurred.

Part 2 — Amendments of the Higher Education Support Act 2003

Higher Education Support Act 2003

5 After section 137-19

Insert:

137-19A Discharge of HELP debts incurred between 1 January and 1 June 2025

A *HELP debt a person incurs in the period beginning on 1 January 2025 and ending on 1 June 2025 is taken to be discharged.

6 After section 140-35

Insert:

140-36 Discharge of accumulated HELP debt

An *accumulated HELP debt a person incurs on 1 June 2025 is taken to be discharged immediately after it is incurred.

Part 3 — Amendments of the Social Security Act 1991

Social Security Act 1991

7 After section 1061ZVDA

Insert:

1061ZVDAA Discharge of SSL debts incurred between 1 January and 1 June 2025

An SSL debt a person incurs in the period beginning on 1 January 2025 and ending on 1 June 2025 is taken to be discharged.

8 After section 1061ZVEE

Insert:

1061ZVEEA Discharge of accumulated SSL debt

An accumulated SSL debt a person incurs on 1 June 2025 is taken to be discharged immediately after it is incurred.

9 At the end of Division 2 of Part 2B.3

Add:

1061ZZEUA Discharge of accumulated FS debt

An accumulated FS debt a person incurs on 1 June 2025 is taken to be discharged immediately after it is incurred.

Part 4 — Amendments of the Student Assistance Act 1973

Student Assistance Act 1973

10 After section 8B

Insert:

8BA Discharge of ABSTUDY SSL debts incurred between 1 January and 1 June 2025

An ABSTUDY SSL debt a person incurs in the period beginning on 1 January 2025 and ending on 1 June 2025 is taken to be discharged.

11 After section 9E

Insert:

9EA Discharge of accumulated ABSTUDY SSL debt

An accumulated ABSTUDY SSL debt a person incurs on 1 June 2025 is taken to be discharged immediately after it is incurred.

12 After section 12ZG

Insert:

12ZGA Discharge of accumulated FS debt

An accumulated FS debt a person incurs on 1 June 2025 is taken to be discharged immediately after it is incurred.

Part 5 — Amendments of the VET Student Loans Act 2016

VET Student Loans Act 2016

13 Subsection 23BA(3)

Omit "on the day that the Secretary pays the loan amount", substitute "on the relevant day".

14 After subsection 23BA(3)

Insert:

(3A) For the purposes of subsection (3), the relevant day is:

(a) unless paragraph (b) applies—the day the Secretary pays the loan amount; or

(b) if subsection (3B) applies to the loan amount—1 June 2025.

(3B) This subsection applies to a loan amount if:

(a) the loan amount should have been paid on or before 1 June 2025 but was paid after 1 June 2025 as a result of an administrative error; or

(b) the loan amount:

(i) was paid during the period of 6 months beginning immediately after 1 June 2025; and

(ii) was used to pay tuition fees for a course, or a part of a course, for which the census day was on or before 1 June 2025.

15 After section 23BA

Insert:

23BAA Discharge of VETSL debts incurred between 1 January and 1 June 2025

A VETSL debt a person incurs in the period beginning on 1 January 2025 and ending on 1 June 2025 is taken to be discharged.

16 After section 23CE

Insert:

23CEA Discharge of accumulated VETSL debt

An accumulated VETSL debt a person incurs on 1 June 2025 is taken to be discharged immediately after it is incurred.

As someone who has long pushed for free and universal public education, I am proud to move this Greens amendment to wipe all student debt, because education should never be a debt sentence. A one-off 20 per cent—but, really, effectively 7.9 per cent—debt cut is unambitious and insufficient. It won't touch the sides of the crisis. All student debt should be wiped, and TAFE and uni should be free, as it was for the Prime Minister. It's clear that Labor felt the pressure from the Greens and have realised that wiping student debt is not only possible but very popular. So I call on you to do a better job of copying our policy and go the full 100 per cent.

Student debt is a crushing burden that punishes people simply for trying to learn and to build a better life. It entrenches inequality, disproportionately affects women and people from disadvantaged backgrounds, and really serves no social good. Wiping all student debt is not radical; it is necessary. It is a step towards justice and towards recognising that education is a public good and not a commodity to be bought and sold.

We're still in the cost-of-living crisis, yet millions continue to have thousands of dollars in student debt hanging over their head. Wiping student debt would free people to start families, buy homes and pursue further study without being shackled by decades of repayments. It would make a profound difference to so many. So I urge the Senate to back this amendment and deliver real relief for millions of people across this country.