Universities Accord (Cutting Student Debt by 20 Per Cent) Bill 2025

Stage by Stage

Summaries in reported speech - not a transcript. In date order, both chambers.

1. Wednesday 23 July 2025 · House of Representatives

   Second Reading

   The Minister for Education introduced the bill to reduce student debt for three million Australians by 20 per cent, amounting to over $16 billion in total debt reduction. The legislation also implements a new marginal repayment system, raising the repayment threshold to $67,000 and reducing annual repayments for low and middle-income earners. The Minister argued these changes address cost-of-living pressures and improve intergenerational equity, fulfilling an election promise. The debate was adjourned after the Minister's speech, with no other members speaking.

   Outcome: The debate was adjourned.

   Read the full summary

2. Tuesday 29 July 2025 · House of Representatives

   Second Reading

   The debate centred on a bill to reduce student debt by 20 per cent and raise the repayment threshold. The Prime Minister and Minister for Education argued the measure delivered on election promises and provided structural fairness. The Shadow Assistant Minister opposed the policy as poorly targeted, arguing it benefited high earners while ignoring broader cost-of-living pressures. Independent members moved an amendment calling for further reforms to indexation and paid placements, which the Minister declined to support.

   Outcome: The amendment moved by Monique Ryan was not supported by the government, and the bill was commended to the House for passage.

   Read the full summary

3. Tuesday 29 July 2025 · House of Representatives

   Third Reading
   See who spoke

4. Tuesday 29 July 2025 · Senate

   First Reading
   See who spoke

5. Tuesday 29 July 2025 · Senate

   Second Reading

   The Senate debated the Universities Accord (Cutting Student Debt by 20 Per Cent) Bill 2025, which proposes a one-off 20 per cent reduction in student debt for three million Australians and structural reforms to the repayment system. Labor senators supported the bill as a delivery on election promises and a measure to alleviate cost-of-living pressures, highlighting the automatic nature of the debt cut and the introduction of a marginal repayment system. Opposition senators acknowledged the government's mandate but criticised the policy as fiscally irresponsible, arguing it disproportionately benefits high-debt holders and fails to address underlying inflation issues. The Greens supported the bill as a partial victory but moved an amendment calling for the complete abolition of student debt and free higher education. One Nation opposed the bill, characterising it as a transfer of debt to the national balance sheet without addressing educational quality.

   Outcome: The debate was adjourned without a final vote recorded in the transcript.

   Read the full summary

6. Wednesday 30 July 2025 · Senate

   In Committee

   The Senate considered amendments to the Universities Accord (Cutting Student Debt by 20 Per Cent) Bill 2025 during committee stage, with Senator Mehreen Faruqi moving proposals to discharge student debt, cap or abolish HELP indexation, and alter indexation calculations. Minister Jess Walsh defended the government's 20% debt reduction and structural reforms, opposing the changes as unnecessary given existing accord recommendations. Opposition and crossbench members raised concerns about indexation mechanisms and the Job-ready Graduates package throughout the debate. All amendments moved by Senator Faruqi and Senator Henderson were defeated in divisions.

   Outcome: All amendments were defeated.

   Read the full summary

7. Wednesday 30 July 2025 · Senate

   Second Reading
   See who spoke

8. Thursday 31 July 2025 · Senate

   Adoption of Report
   See who spoke

9. Thursday 31 July 2025 · Senate

   In Committee

   The Senate debated a Greens amendment to the Universities Accord Bill, which sought to revert student contribution amounts for Society and Culture courses to pre-2020 levels. Senator Faruqi argued that the government had failed to address the high costs of arts degrees introduced under previous reforms. Minister Walsh responded that the government was implementing broader accord recommendations, including debt relief and new support structures, rather than reversing specific fee structures. The amendment was not passed.

   Outcome: The amendment was not passed, with divisions resulting in 11 votes against and 29 votes for the government position.

   Read the full summary

10. Thursday 31 July 2025 · Senate

    Third Reading
    See who spoke