2023-03-16
Submissions to a Senate inquiry into a bill introduced by Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Australian Greens Deputy Leader and Spokesperson for Education, which would freeze student debt and raise minimum repayment income thresholds, show overwhelming support for the measures.
The Senate Inquiry hearing will be held in Sydney tomorrow.
Senator Faruqi said:
"The Inquiry has received submissions from a large number of individuals about how inflation-driven indexation will impact them if the Government does not step in and scrap it.”
“Rising student debt is impacting people's mental health, causing young people to re-think further study and making it harder for them to access personal loans for a car or their first home.”
“Rising student debt is making things worse for people already doing it tough.”
“Rising student debt will further entrench inequality, with women and young people who earn less than men bearing the brunt of soaring student debt”
“There is no time to waste. The Government needs to urgently take the first step in relieving this unfair economic burden by scrapping indexation and raising the minimum repayment income.”