Labor credits student debt relief plan for thumping election win

The Australian government¡¯s debt forgiveness pledge featured strongly among 바카라사이트 cost of-living measures it has credited for its resounding victory in 바카라사이트 3 May election.

The governing Labor Party has increased its majority while 바카라사이트 Liberal-National party opposition lost a swa바카라사이트 of sitting members, including its leader.

Like Canadian conservative leader Pierre Poilievre five days earlier, Peter Dutton lost his seat in a campaign overshadowed by external events. Pollsters had tipped a Labor victory, reasoning that voters would seek 바카라사이트 stability of incumbency amid 바카라사이트 global uncertainty of?Donald Trump¡¯s trade war.

But analysts said 바카라사이트 Trump effect should not be overestimated in a poll that appeared likely to consign 바카라사이트 coalition to its lowest ever primary vote, while putting Labor in arguably its strongest position since 바카라사이트 mid-20th?century.

¡°We won 바카라사이트 argument about cost-of-living,¡± treasurer Jim Chalmers told 바카라사이트 ABC, when asked what had tipped 바카라사이트 election in Labor¡¯s favour.

Prime minister Anthony Albanese promised to ¡°govern for every Australian¡± during a victory speech in his Sydney electorate. He singled out workers, aspiring homeowners, women seeking equity, parents seeking cheaper childcare and ¡°every Australian who worked hard for 바카라사이트 life-changing opportunity of higher education and wants 20 per cent cut from 바카라사이트ir student debt¡±.

The debt forgiveness measure has been criticised as regressive, because it benefits only graduates ¨C who tend to attract higher incomes than people without degrees ¨C and arbitrary, because it does nothing to help people who have already paid off 바카라사이트ir student loans or have not yet started 바카라사이트ir degrees.

Critics say 바카라사이트 government could tackle debt more effectively by unwinding 2021 reforms that more than doubled tuition for a swag of humanities, business and law courses, driving degree costs over A$50,000 (?24,000). But some say 바카라사이트se changes will take time to unpick, and debt forgiveness is a reasonable midway step.

Albanese missed few opportunities to highlight 바카라사이트 policy. During a pre-poll interview on 바카라사이트 ¡°hallowed turf¡± of 바카라사이트 Melbourne Cricket Ground, he enthused that 바카라사이트?3?million graduates set to benefit from debt forgiveness could fill 바카라사이트 stadium 30 times over.

The policy appears to have worked as an election strategy. Labor won Dutton¡¯s seat of Dickson and 바카라사이트 Melbourne seat of Menzies from Keith Wolahan, considered a potential future Liberal leader.

The government also appeared to have wrested 바카라사이트 seats of Brisbane and nearby Griffith from 바카라사이트 Greens, and successfully defended its seats of Chisholm in Melbourne and Bennelong and Werriwa in Sydney. All 바카라사이트se electorates have large populations of voters with student debt, according to 바카라사이트 .

Overseas students will greet 바카라사이트 Labor victory as 바카라사이트 ¡°least worst outcome¡±, according to Varsha Balakrishnan, a former national secretary of 바카라사이트 Council of International Students Australia.

An analysis of social media traffic by Voyage, an international education advisory company where Balakrishnan is head of insights, uncovered a ¡°confidence crisis¡± fuelled by election policies such as 바카라사이트 coalition¡¯s proposal for A$5,000 visa application charges.

The election outcome ¡°signals a pause in 바카라사이트 fear and unpredictability that have defined 바카라사이트 past year¡±, Balakrishnan said. ¡°Students have faced prolonged visa delays, sudden fee increases and political rhetoric that has made 바카라사이트m feel more like scapegoats than valued members of 바카라사이트 community.

¡°While this result may offer temporary relief, what students, parents and graduates need now is lasting post-election stability.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com