Why Some Students Feel Left Out in This Election: Aspects of Neglect in Education

Share and Follow

This federal election, millennial and gen Z voters will be the biggest voting bloc, outnumbering their older counterparts.

But despite , some think not enough is being done for students in this election. Earlier this week, the Coalition said it would not back a Labor promise to cut university debt by 20 per cent if elected.

“I think the major parties have very little to offer students, with the exception of students who happen to run private childcare companies or fossil fuel projects,” National Union of Students education officer James McVicar told SBS News.

“For the rest of us, it’s a few crumbs off the table.”

So, where do the major parties stand on students? Here’s what they’ve promised.

The Coalition: No to HECS relief, yes to tradies

The Coalition says it won’t back Labor’s promise to write off a portion of student debt if it’s re-elected, calling the HELP cut “elitist” and “profoundly unfair”.

On Wednesday night, the Coalition released a statement saying it would not proceed with Labor’s plan to cut 20 per cent from all student loans, which Labor says would save the average graduate about $5,520.

“It’s not fair that they [university students] should get thousands of dollars from taxpayers, but the young tradies who had to borrow to pay for their ute or their tools, or the uni students who diligently paid off their student debt, get nothing,” the statement said.

More broadly, the Coalition’s policies on education focus primarily on tradespeople.

They’ve promised to build 12 new technical colleges in areas with skill shortages and youth unemployment. This will allow senior high school students to enrol in school-based apprenticeships and traineeships while still earning a Year 12 certificate.

They’ve also promised to return the number of apprentices and trainees in training to over 400,000 and have vowed to provide small and medium businesses with $12,000 to support the wages of new apprentices.

International students are also in their sights, with plans to cap international student numbers to 240,000 — 30,000 fewer than what Labor proposed last year. They say the move will help free up housing for young people.

Universities Australia, a peak body for the sector, has pushed back against the “scapegoating” of international students, warning the move would harm the economy and damage Australia’s reputation as a study destination.

Labor promises to slash student debt, raise repayment threshold

Labor’s pitch towards students has focused on its promise to wipe 20 per cent of student debt if re-elected, which they say will save about $5,520 for the average graduate.

The policy, which would cost about $16 billion, would apply to around three million Australians. The government says it’s aimed at relieving cost of living pressures on young people.

The Albanese government has also pledged to lift the income threshold for student loan repayments from $54,000 to $67,000.

If re-elected, Labor has promised to introduce a $10,000 incentive payment for Australians in construction apprenticeships and to fast-track the qualifications of 6,000 tradies to help build more homes across Australia, as part of its ‘Advanced Entry Trades Training program’.

Labor will also make free TAFE permanent, and provide a payment to support nursing, midwifery, teaching and social work students to complete their unpaid prac requirements.

Last year, Labor criticised the controversial which hiked fees for arts degrees and lowered them for subjects like teaching and STEM.

Education Minister Jason Clare said in November he intended to set up an Australian Tertiary Education Commission to provide non-binding advice on university course fees.

But Labor is yet to announce plans to reform the scheme.

“The Jobs-Ready Graduate scheme was and is a Liberal Party scheme to make students pay more for their education overall and channel them into degrees that they considered to be priorities,” McVicar said.

“I don’t think the priorities of the party of Peter Dutton should dictate what’s on offer to students in the higher education sector. I’m for a fully-funded and free higher education system without ‘price signals’ and soaring student debt.”

Greens pledge free university and TAFE

Meanwhile, , with the government covering all fees for students studying at public universities.

They estimate this would cost $46.5 billion, which would be paid for by taxing big corporations.

They also want all university debt abolished.

“I think at a bare minimum, we should have free education again,” McVicar said. “It could be easily covered with the money the government instead wants to spend on nuclear-fuelled submarines.”

For the latest from SBS News, and .

Visit the to access articles, podcasts and videos from SBS News, NITV and our teams covering more than 60 languages.