Sarah Henderson (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Firstly, I want to thank Senator Duniam for his very kind words. I've worked very closely with Senator Duniam and many other colleagues in relation to this and many other matters in the education portfolio. This is one of the great things about being a member of the Liberal Party. We are able to bring ideas forward from the backbench. While I'm not thrilled about being on the backbench, I have to confess, it certainly does allow all members on our side to collaboratively work with shadow ministers and to bring forward ideas in a way that's collegiate and constructive. I just want to thank all of my colleagues with whom I have worked very constructively on this amendment. I particularly want to thank Senator Duniam for his kind words and for the constructive and very close way that we have worked together.

I also indicate that I agree with Senator Duniam. I think the minister is playing unnecessary politics, and the ribbing I received yesterday during question time about being on the backbench is pretty shabby, frankly. If a member of the Labor Party wants to bring forward an amendment contrary to Labor Party policy, guess what happens in the Labor party? That member gets expelled. So, unlike the command and control in the Labor Party, where any alternative voices or ideas are shut down—we have, of course, seen one member of your party move to the crossbench as a result of her having different ideas—one of the great traditions of our party is the ability to express our views and our conscience as a member of the backbench. So I say to the minister: perhaps it is about time—I've seen this in the childcare space—you stopped playing so much politics and started acting a little more graciously. I would ask you to do so in relation to my right, and the way that my party backs my ability, to bring forward an amendment in the national interest, in particular in the best interests of young Australians and future Australians who are thinking about going to university or vocational education.

One of the really big flaws of the student debt discount bill is that it basically cuts off from 1 June. So any student looking to enrol in semester 2—of course, semester 2 is just about to start—is completely left behind. There's no discount for them. Of course, there's also no discount for future students. Also, you may not be aware, Minister, but the indexation rate which was announced on 1 April and applies from 1 June this year actually doesn't have a two in front of it, as you tried to suggest—and to mislead the Senate on, in my view. It is actually 3.2 per cent. The current HELP indexation rate applying this year is 3.2 per cent. This proposal to cap indexation at three per cent would deliver a moderate saving to each individual student and debtor, so that would deliver immediate cost-of-living relief. It's only fairly modest, as I say, but, over time, when that compounds year after year, that starts to make a really big difference.

I think what's more important about this cap is that it gives absolute certainty and builds confidence in the HELP scheme. Minister, I would ask you to correct the record and ask you to confirm that the HELP indexation rate that applies this year does not have a two in front of it but is in fact 3.2 per cent.