What was debated in Parliament
Summarised using AI from the official Hansard transcript of the debate only. It is not a record of the debate and may leave things out. Read the Hansard below to check it.
This Greens bill would lower the maximum student fees for law, accounting, economics, commerce, communications, society and culture, and arts units back to levels set before the Job-Ready Graduates changes of 2020. Supporters said it would roughly halve the cost of an arts degree. The debate focused on student debt, fairness for low-income students, and the cost to university funding.
Arguments made in support
The Greens said fees for arts, humanities, law and social science degrees had more than doubled, leaving students with debts of over $50,000.
Supporters said enrolments by low-income students fell, especially in the courses with the highest fees.
The Greens said almost all submissions to the Senate inquiry supported reversing the fee rises urgently.
Independent Senator David Pocock said the scheme had not worked and needed urgent reform, though he did not agree with every part of the bill.
Supporters argued the government could afford to fund universities properly by choosing different spending and tax priorities.
Arguments made against, or for changes
Government senators said evidence to the Senate committee showed the bill would cut university funding and could hurt courses, staff, research and regional providers.
The government said it was already reducing student debt and changing funding, and would keep reforming through the new tertiary education commission.
Coalition speakers said the bill would remove about $1.3 billion a year from universities with no way to replace the money.
The Coalition argued the bill ignored that the scheme lowered fees for nursing, teaching, agriculture and science, creating a new and uneven fee structure.
Coalition speakers said the scheme should be reviewed as a whole, with any reform properly funded and designed.
8 speeches by 6 members in the Senate over 2 sitting days.
Hansard: Senate, 25 Nov 2025 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Hansard: Senate, 1 July 2026 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Australia's Voice
0 Yes
0 No
1–
The last column counts members who did not vote. Party counts are for current members.
2 votes were cast by people who have since left Parliament.
Every party member who voted went with the majority of their party.