Pyne contradicts Department of Education website on student debt changes

The Australian Greens spokesperson for higher education Senator Lee Rhiannon has accused Education Minister Christopher Pyne for not being across key details of his radical and regressive reforms to the higher education sector.

"On the ABC's Insiders this morning Mr Pyne claimed that the new student debt arrangements, that will see students pay a real interest rate of up to 6 per cent on their debt, will only impact students enrolling from this year," Senator Rhiannon said.

"The Minister's departmental website clearly states these new arrangements will apply to all students with a debt - even those who have graduated.

See website here: https://education.gov.au/students-2

"This a clear contradiction of Mr Pyne's statement this morning that 'nothing will change' for students enrolled prior to this year's budget.

"Either Mr Pyne deliberately lied or he doesn't understand his own policy changes.

"These changes will see graduates who have finished their studies and are now in the workforce pay thousands more in interest repayments on their student debt.

"Women and low-income graduates will be the hardest hit by these changes and Mr Pyne needs to explain why he has developed such a regressive and unfair system," Senator Rhiannon said.

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