Coalition to back Labor's HECs relief plan
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The news: The Opposition will back Labor’s HECs relief bill, in new leader Sussan Ley’s first major tactical decision since Parliament resumed.
The context: Labor introduced its plan, which would wipe 20% of HECs debts, to Parliament last week and aims to push it through by Thursday evening.
While the Coalition opposed the plan in the lead-up to the last federal election, its thumping election defeat has forced Ley into a sweeping review of its platform – with almost all policies currently on the table.
On Tuesday, Ley confirmed the Coalition partyroom had agreed to wave through the legislation – which would have passed anyway, given support from the Greens.
Recent polling found the Coalition’s support among voters aged 18-34 at just 19%, less than half of Labor’s 40%.
Asked about rolling division within the Coalition over net zero, Ley insisted she had “We have the “time to get energy policy right”.
What they said: “We agreed to not oppose the bill as it makes its way through the parliament. We do care about students who are struggling with the cost of living and said we would be positive where we can be, and critical where we need to be,” Ley told reporters in Canberra.
The source: Sussan Ley press conference
