Charlotte Walker (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Education, Senator Walsh. The Albanese Labor government went to the election promising to support students at our universities and TAFEs by cutting their HECS debt by 20 per cent. How is the government progressing in its delivery of this commitment, and what other measures is the government delivering to help young Australians with cost-of-living relief? How will cutting student HECS by 20 per cent support young Australians with cost-of-living relief and help set them up for life?

Jess Walsh (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Early Childhood Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Walker, for your question. It's wonderful to have such a strong advocate for young Australians and cutting student debt on the Albanese Labor government team.

A year ago, the Prime Minister of Australia promised that a re-elected Albanese Labor government would wipe 20 per cent off HECS debt. Australians voted for it, and we are delivering it. Last weekend, people started receiving emails and text messages saying their HECS debt had been wiped. And in just two days time, 1.5 million Australians will have their HECS debt cut too. Next week, the same thing will happen for a further 1.5 million Australians. They too will get that text message. They will get that email. That's three million Australians getting the HECS relief that they deserve. The HECS relief that we promised. The HECS relief that this government is delivering.

We've wiped $5,500 from the average student debt—gone!—and put it back into the pockets of Australians just as they are getting started in life, just when they need that relief the most. Three million Australians are benefiting from our commitment. Three million Australians are getting this cost-of-living relief. Three million Australians are getting a weight off their shoulders just before Christmas. These are the kinds of reforms that only a Labor government will ever deliver. From these cuts to student debt to our historic investments in Medicare, only Labor delivers the reforms and the relief that young Australians and all Australians deserve.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Walker, first supplementary?

Charlotte Walker (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We know the Albanese Labor government's reforms to HECS have been huge for young people, helping to take the pressure off, putting more money back in the pockets of millions of Australians and making our education system fairer. What else is the government doing to support young people in education, and has this received widespread support?

Jess Walsh (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Early Childhood Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We know that young Australians support our student debt cuts. We know that they support free TAFE as well. And we know that young Australians embrace the opportunity to get an education and get ahead.

But, Senator Walker, do you know who doesn't support our cuts to student debt? Do you know who doesn't support our free TAFE program? It's the 'no-alition' over there. I think some of them might be checking their phones right now just to see whether they have got that text message or that email cutting their own student debt, but they don't support our program to cut student debt. While millions of Australians benefit, they still oppose our student debt cuts. They still oppose free TAFE, with the Leader of the Opposition saying, 'If you don't pay for it, you don't value it.' I'll tell you what we value on this side of the chamber, we value the opportunity for an education and we value the opportunity to do exactly what we said we were going to do. (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Walker, second supplementary?

Charlotte Walker (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The cut to the HECS debt will support young people by delivering cost-of-living relief when they are starting out in life. Along with HECS relief, what else is the Albanese Labor government doing to deliver for young Australians and help them get ahead? Are there any obstacles standing in the way?

Jess Walsh (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Early Childhood Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Walker. We know that young people starting out in life deserve cost-of-living relief, and we are delivering on that while those opposite are divided. While we're looking after the future of young Australians, those opposite are caught up in the conflicts of the past. On this side of the chamber, we see young Australians, we back young Australians, we support young Australians with our 20 per cent HECS cut, with fee-free TAFE and with paid prac too.

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

Which nurses and teaches cannot access!

Jess Walsh (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Early Childhood Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

And while we know that the Liberals love lower wages and higher taxes, Senator Henderson, we are supporting young Australians with higher wages and lower taxes because we want young Australians to earn more and keep more of what they earn, while you wanted to abolish free TAFE, Senator Henderson! You wanted to abolish it!

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Henderson!

Jess Walsh (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Early Childhood Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

President, we want more young Australians getting an education, walking through those doors of opportunity and getting ahead. (Time expired)