Greens Deputy Leader and Higher Education Spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi and Housing and Թվlessness spokesperson Max Chandler-Mather MP have responded to the Albanese Government’s decision to instruct banks to loosen home loan rules for student debts, making it easier for some student debt holders to get a home loan.
As stated by Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Greens Deputy Leader and Higher Education Spokesperson:
“This announcement is yet another demonstration of the Albanese Government’s pathological inability to pursue anything other than “too little too late” solutions.
“We have heard for years now that massive student debts are locking people out of the housing market, and finally, in the dying days of the Albanese Government’s first term, they’ve decided to do the bare minimum in a desperate attempt to win young voters.
“The problem here is the fact that student debts exist and grow every year. Banks won’t solve the student debt crisis, only Governments can.
“Because of Greens pressure, Labor has agreed to wipe 20% of student debts, but the only way to make things fairer for young people is to wipe student debt completely. University should be free, like it was when the Prime Minister went to uni.
“With a minority Parliament looming, the Greens will push to wipe all student debt in any minority Parliament negotiations after the next election.”
As stated by Max Chandler-Mather MP, Greens spokesperson for Housing and Թվlessness:
“The biggest barrier to young people buying a house is sky high house prices driven by tax handouts to property investors. Rather than asking banks nicely, why doesn’t the government do their job and take real action, starting with phasing out negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount for investors with multiple homes.
“Record high house prices have pushed home ownership out of reach for millions and the Housing Minister has said Labor wants house prices to keep increasing, and now their solution is asking the banks nicely. What a joke.
