Trade Support Loans Amendment Bill 2023 and Student Loans (Overseas Debtors Repayment Levy) Amendment Bill 2023

The majority voted against an amendment to the usual second reading motion, which is "that the bill be read a second time" (parliamentary jargon for agreeing with the main idea of the bill). This means the original second reading motion will remain unchanged. The amendment was introduced by NSW Senator Mehreen Faruqi (Greens).

Amendment text

At the end of the motion, add ", but the Senate:

(a) notes that this bill does nothing to mitigate the student debt crisis at a time when student and training debts are increasing at an out-of-control pace; and

(b) calls on the Government to:

(i) ensure that students and apprentices do not acquire further debt when accessing government support to complete their training,

(ii) pay students and apprentices when undertaking mandatory vocational placements,

(iii) make university and TAFE fee-free; and

(iv) wipe all student and training debt".