Of the 226 politicians in the Federal Parliament, four have student debts.
TDA has analysed the Parliament’s register of interests, which includes liabilities (debts).
The average age of a federal politician is 52. Youth activists say HECS is a deep cost-of-living concern for young people.
In response to TDA’s questions, the Government spruiked its changes to HECS, while Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said she wants to see “more younger Australians in Parliament”.
HECS/ HELP
When you take a university or TAFE course, you can either pay upfront, or apply for a Higher Education Contribution Scheme loan (HECS) under the Higher Education Loan Program (HELP).
Most students apply for this loan.
From 1974 to 1989, when the system rolled out, degrees were free.
The average HELP debt in 2023/24 was $27,600.
Recent changes
Unlike other types of loans, student debts don’t accrue interest.
However, they are indexed each year on 1 June, where the value of the debt increases in line with rising prices.
As of last year, debts change based on either the consumer price index (inflation) or wage price index (wage growth), whichever is lower.
The Government also passed a one-off 20% discount through Parliament in July.
Parliament
TDA has analysed federal MPs and Senators’ register of interests.
These are formal declarations of assets like properties and investments, debts, and gifts, in order to identify conflicts of interest.
HECS or HELP debts are listed as a ‘liability’. Most MPs and Senators registered mortgages or credit cards under this category.
Four out of 226 parliamentarians have registered a HECS debt.
In the Senate, TDA has found Labor’s Charlotte Walker and the Greens’ Steph Hodgins-May are the only two who have listed student debts.
In the House of Representatives, Labor MPs Gabriel Ng and Matt Gregg have both listed student debts in their registers of interest.
Hodgins-May replaced Victorian Senator Janet Rice, who retired in April 2024, while the other three were elected this year.
This analysis does not cover those who have already paid off their student debts.
Young people
Youth activists told TDA the data reveals the absence of younger people in decision-making.
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Alice Jackson, campaign adviser to Raise Our Voices Australia, a non-partisan group promoting youth political engagement, said it shows a “disconnect” between politicians and voters.
“HECS is tied quite heavily to the cost of living for young people,” they said.
Jackson said young people are increasingly engaging grassroots political activism, but there remain “barriers to entry”.
Afsana Kazi, an 18-year-old university student and volunteer with the civics education program ‘Youth Decide’, said it was “unsurpising” but “disappointing”.
She acknowledged there are efforts to “resonate with the youth” through social media, but said Parliament can’t fully understand young people’s “particular plight.”
“There’s a lot of anxiety… and the general consensus is the world’s not in a great state at the moment,” she said.
Labor Senator Charlotte Walker became the youngest woman ever elected to Parliament this year at 21-years-old.
She is one of the four MPs who have student debts.
Speaking to TDA, Walker said: “I’ve got colleagues that don’t have a HECS debt, but spend a lot of time talking to constituents that do”.
“Although not everyone within the Parliament has a HECS debt, there is still a level of understanding that... debt burden is a big problem for young people.”
Labor's response
Youth Minister Jess Walsh told TDA the Government engages with young people in several ways.
“Young people’s experiences matter to this Government and I look forward to continuing to hear from them,” she said.
In response to TDA’s questions, Education Minister Jason Clare spruiked the Government’s changes to HECS indexation and the one-off 20% discount to student debts, while admitting “there’s more to do” to make the system fairer.
Coalition
No independent, minor party, or Coalition MPs and Senators had HECS debts listed.
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley told TDA she worked part-time jobs, including as a cleaner, while studying to become a pilot, and took on a HECS debt when she studied in her 30s.
“I know it is tough, and it’s tougher today with rising costs,” she said.
“I want to see more younger Australians in Parliament — it’s clearly an area we need to improve on.”
Independents
Independent MP Dr Monique Ryan was head of neurology at Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital before entering Parliament.
“ I don’t have all the health conditions that people come and talk to me about,” Dr Ryan told TDA.
“My job is to listen to [their] concerns and amplify them.”
She said “significant debt arising from tertiary education” remains a “structural roadblock” for young people wanting to enter politics.
