In the media
Finally – an educated adjustment to HECS calculations
Media release, 5 May 2024
In May last year, a group of local young people and concerned parents told me of their distress at the way HECS/HELP debt is calculated. That month I took those observations to the Federal Minister for Education who remarked at the time, “Tink has a point”. In March this year I met with the Minister again to advocate for reform but to also ask for debt forgiveness.
Over a year since that work began, and after strong advocacy from the crossbench, today’s announcement of a new approach to indexation as well as debt forgiveness from last year is overdue, but welcome.
This is an example of the change that can be delivered when a government is prepared to listen to the community. This is politics done differently.
Today’s announcement will have an immediate, positive impact on the lives of millions of young people who are grappling with escalating living costs and financial insecurity.
It is positive the government has listened and ensured the changes include retrospectively lowering the indexation figure paid by students on June 1 last year to the wage growth figure of 3.2 per cent.
This is a big win for young people, particularly young women, who have larger HECS debts but consistently earn less than men. By removing the unnecessary burden of thousands of dollars of debt, young people can focus on moving ahead with their lives.
Tertiary education is an investment in our future. It’s critical we not only alleviate immediate financial pressures but have a system that supports greater productivity and community prosperity.
Today’s announcement is also a small but important step towards improving intergenerational equity. However, there is much more we can do to improve outcomes for the next generation including implementing other recommendations of the Universities Accord, reforming our tax system, acting urgently on climate change and investing in a future-focused economy.
Other relevant posts
Independent raises alarm on social media ban
ABC Radio National, 29 November 2024
Despite growing ranks opposing the bill, a ban on social media for under 16s passed the Senate late on the final sitting day of the year. In a radio interview about the ban, Kylea warns that the Bill "doesn't do what it says on the tin".
Australia Has Barred Everyone Under 16 From Social Media. Will It Work?
New York Times, 29 November 2024
The New York Times covers Australia's new social media law, noting that how the restriction will be enforced online remains an open question. Kylea has said that law would stop short of holding social media companies accountable for the safety of the product they are providing. “They are not fixing the potholes; they are just telling our kids there won’t be any cars,” she is quoted as saying.
Joint media conference on Build to Rent legislation
Media conference, 27 November 2024
Housing Minister Clare O'Neil has acknowledged the work of Kylea and others on the crossbench in working towards ways to address Australia's housing crisis. Kylea has described the Build to Rent legislation, which was developed and passed with the support of a broad coalition of parliamentarians, industry groups and social services organisations, as "a milestone in moving ourselves forward as a nation ... This is the best of public policy development: when we lean in together to overcome our differences, to ultimately put the solution at the front of what we're trying to achieve for Australians."
Labor and LNP strike deal on immigration detention
ABC News, 27 November 2024
Media coverage of a behind-the-scenes deal between the Government and Opposition over a suite of migration laws that would enable Australia to pay other countries to take immigration detainees with limited safeguards; block all visitors from countries that won't take back their citizens; and search detainees without a warrant and confiscate their mobile phones. Coalition immigration spokesperson Dan Tehan has described the legislation as "us setting the agenda", while Kylea has criticised the Government's decision to "kowtow to the opposition" ahead of the next election.
Labor’s legislation backlog leaves genetic discrimination ban stalled
The Australian, 26 November 2024
The Labor Government will not legislate a ban on genetic discrimination by the end of the year, despite earlier commitments to do so. Kylea, who played a major role in advocating for the ban, has questioned the delay, to which the Government has responded that it plans to deliver the ban within this term.
'A dark day in our history': Refugee advocates warn Labor laws put thousands at risk
ABC News, 26 November 2024
Kylea says the Government's proposal to give the immigration minister sweeping new deportation powers worsens Australia's "egregious human rights abuse" of refugees. "As a nation, we've been in breach of international human rights law for nearly three decades now in the way that we treat people who seek asylum in our country… Labor had the opportunity to .show that we are better than where previous governments have chosen to take us, but they've taken the coward's route and decided to kowtow to the opposition."
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