Statement attributable to Universities Australia Chief Executive Officer Luke Sheehy:

“We know that cost is a major factor in people’s decision to start and finish university.

“If passed, these changes to make HELP loans cheaper and fairer will provide much-needed support to Australians already paying off a HELP debt.

“We hope they also give more people confidence to study at university.

“Australia needs a strong pipeline of skilled workers to make our economy more prosperous and productive, which means opening the door to university for more Australians now and into the future.

“Scrapping the Job-ready Graduates Package to make student fees fairer and expanding the Commonwealth Prac Payment could help shift the dial on participation, which is what the country needs.

“There is broad parliamentary support for these initiatives, and we encourage the government to work constructively with the sector and parliamentarians to bring on these broader reforms.”