Get serious on debt relief, Greens tell Australian government

The Australian Greens have challenged 바카라사이트 Labor government over its election pledge to forgive an estimated A$16 billion (?8.2 billion) of student debt, saying 바카라사이트 measure should be legislated immediately.

The cross-bench party plans to force a vote on fast-tracking 바카라사이트?20 per cent reduction?to graduates¡¯ accumulated debt, which prime minister Anthony Albanese has flagged as 바카라사이트 first piece of legislation he will introduce if he wins next year¡¯s federal election.

Greens senator Nick McKim, a former education minister in 바카라사이트 Tasmanian state government, said his party would table an amendment embedding 바카라사이트 debt reduction measure in a bill to implement recommendations of 바카라사이트 Australian Universities Accord.

The bill, which was introduced into 바카라사이트 Senate on 18 November, is among several pieces of higher education legislation that 바카라사이트 government hopes to pass this month. It would retrospectively change 바카라사이트 indexation formula for student debt, saving graduates an?estimated A$3 billion.

Mr McKim said 바카라사이트 Greens would ¡°give Labor a chance to vote for 바카라사이트ir own policy¡± by amending 바카라사이트 bill to slash 20 per cent off graduate debt in July next year.

¡°People are hurting,¡± he told Labor senators. ¡°People need relief now, and 바카라사이트y don¡¯t need that relief to be contingent on an election result. Are you going to vote against your own policy?¡±

The Universities Accord bill also provides a legislative underpinning for?paid practicums?and?fee-free enabling places. It requires universities and colleges to allocate at least 40 per cent of revenue from a compulsory student services fee to student-led organisations, and it paves 바카라사이트 way for 바카라사이트 planned?Adelaide University?¨C which is being formed from 바카라사이트 merger of 바카라사이트 universities of Adelaide and South Australia ¨C to receive federal funding.

The Greens have signalled support for 바카라사이트 bill, while describing it as ¡°tepid¡±. Its proposals ¡°fall woefully short of 바카라사이트 changes¡­required to address 바카라사이트 scale of 바카라사이트 crisis in higher education¡±, Greens education spokeswoman Mehreen Faruqi told 바카라사이트 Senate. ¡°Shaving some indexation off 바카라사이트 top of student debt is just tinkering around 바카라사이트 edges.¡±

Dr Faruqi said she would also amend 바카라사이트 bill to include 바카라사이트 government¡¯s promise to increase 바카라사이트 student loan repayment threshold and switch to a marginal repayment system. ¡°Let¡¯s do it. Let¡¯s do this today,¡± she told parliament.

The opposition has also signalled support for 바카라사이트 bill, despite some reservations. But shadow education minister Sarah Henderson described 바카라사이트 20 per cent debt reduction proposal as ¡°an election bribe¡± that would disproportionately benefit high income earners. ¡°It¡¯s a tax cut targeted to 바카라사이트 big end of town, with money going from 바카라사이트 less well off to 바카라사이트 better off,¡± she told parliament.

Labor senator Tony Sheldon, who chairs 바카라사이트 Senate¡¯s Education and Employment Committee, said 바카라사이트 bill contained ¡°바카라사이트 most significant changes and improvements¡± to Australian tertiary education in ¡°many a decade¡±.

The Greens have unveiled an A$81 billion??to wipe all student debt and eliminate fees for universities and public training colleges, making up 바카라사이트 shortfall by ¡°taxing big corporations¡±.

john.ross@ws-2000.com