Free Tafe Bill 2024

The majority voted against an amendment that would have added the words below 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). In other words, they voted to keep the usual second reading motion unchanged.

Amendment text

That all words after "That" be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:

"whilst not declining to give the bill a second reading, the House:

(1) notes that if the Government can legislate its promises on Fee-Free TAFE right now, it can also legislate to wipe student debt; and

(2) calls on the Government to legislate its promise to wipe 20 per cent of student debt and raise the repayment threshold now, not wait for an election"