My first thought on waking up this morning was about how much the Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS) Is impacting Australian University Students. I’m referring to the domestic students, not Those who are coming in as internationals because they pay an arm and a leg for the privilege of studying at our universities in Australia. They are regarded as “Cash Powers“ by universities. It is the huge amount charged to them for doing courses and gaining degrees that universities apply to everything from salaries to business cases and facilities management.

My concern is for domestic students who are studying at their home universities. Our granddaughter commenced study at the University in Darwin this year. Her degree in the area of science and medicine will take three years. Her HECS debt will be north of $30,000 at the end of that time.

There is no way that somebody can get a good degree and then have to turn around and start paying off that debt, especially when the cost-price index each year is added in to reflect inflation within the economy. over three years including 2024, the amount added to that will be in order of 15%. And those increases keep on adding to the accumulated debt in the same way as interest does on house mortgages. What chance did these people get?

We are helping our granddaughter and are pleased to be able to do so. But she may be among a minority supported in this way.

The cartoon in the Melbourne Herald Sun by Mark Knight today shows exactly what I’m talking about.

How unfair is this and why do governments aim to add to costs borne by students by adding CPI increases to what they owe?