Breaking news: we took on the government and WON!
Hi friend,
We did it!
Our petition to make HECS debts easier to pay off… has worked.
After 288,000 people signed what has become one of the largest petitions in Australian history, the government has today announced substantial changes to the HECS system.
HECS debts will now be indexed to whichever is lower of the Consumer Price Index and the Wage Price Index — which is exactly what our petition called for.
In addition, $3 billion worth of student debt will be wiped, benefitting the 3 million Australians with a HECS debt.
If you have an average HECS debt of $26,500, your debt will be cut by $1,200. If you have a $50,000 debt, it will be cut by $2,200.
Today’s announcement happened because you signed this petition: when we all stand up and demand change, the government has no choice but to listen.
For those who don’t know much about me, I’m an Independent Member of Parliament — as an Independent, I listen to my community, not a political party. In my first speech in Parliament, I asked young people to keep speaking. I told them that their voices are being heard. Today, I hope that the young people of Australia feel heard.
Being an Independent is about listening — and then acting. That’s what I’ve done with HECS over the past year and I’m pleased we got a result.
We’re not done, though. The HECS debt issue is emblematic of a much broader problem: Millennials and Gen Z aren’t just facing insurmountable HECS debts; they’re also facing a housing crisis, a climate crisis, and a cost-of-living crisis.
This isn’t just about HECS debts, it is about getting the government to fulfil its promise to the next generations.
And if you like this way of doing politics, please do follow me on Instagram to stay in the loop.
All the best,
Mon