With strong advocacy from Kooyong independent Monique Ryan the government has wiped $3.5 billion off the HECS debt of almost three million Australians. But it’s not enough. We need to change the way HECS is indexed, overhaul the Jobs Ready Graduate Scheme, and raise the rate of Youth Allowance.

I support expansion of fee free TAFE and vocational education including expansion of courses eligible for paid placements, given workforce shortages in aged care, disability and child care services as well as many trades, including in construction and renewables.