2018-12-14
Under the Greens‘ transformative new plan, university and TAFE graduates can ditch the debt and have twenty thousand dollars extra in their pocket as they start their lives. Here‘s why that‘s something worth fighting for.
By The Australian Greens
In a world of rapidly changing technology and jobs, access to education is vital – whether you are leaving school, changing careers or looking to gain new skills and knowledge.
Which is why it is so exciting to see Mehreen Faruqi and Richard Di Natale announce the Greens’ plan for free TAFE and undergraduate university for everyone this month.
We made the announcement in December as thousands of students around the country were getting their ATAR results back after their final high school exams. Imagine if these students could await their results knowing that their university choices were not going to be limited by the high costs of living and enormous debts that are an inevitable part of getting a degree for so many students.
The Greens believe that we should all have access to high quality, free education – affordable no matter what age we are, our income, or where we live.
Our plan, which will see over 1.3 million Australians studying free in TAFE and universities by 2023, will support both students and teachers to achieve better learning outcomes by:
- Providing free undergraduate TAFE and uni for all students;
- Raising Youth Allowance and Austudy by $75 a week and make all postgrads eligible;
- Boosting university funding by 10% per student to improve learning and teaching conditions;
- Tying the HELP repayment threshold to the median wage for students with an existing HELP debt;
- Supporting university staff by linking funding to increases in the security of their work.
Here's what TAFE and uni students had to say about our plan.
We're excited to be able to take this plan to the election next year, as the opportunity to learn unlocks our potential, reduces inequality and allows us all to live a good life.