#HECS

[galacticwildfire]

Just sharing as an Australian history student to show how fucked the uni system here is. Especially when they doubled the cost of most degrees in the middle of 2020 (the year I graduated) when we’d spent our hsc studying and preparing for a certain degree/career. My year group could not suddenly change our entire life plan over a policy they introduced just as we were about to graduate and had done our uni applications.

In 2020/2021 they doubled the cost of anything arts or critical thinking related (including politics/history/law) when our government wasn’t operating as a democracy should (our prime minister swore himself into half a dozen government positions without anyone knowing) + openly said women were lucky they weren’t shot at for protesting against the country’s domestic violence problem that the government chooses to ignore.

They did this to effectively force students from low economic areas and backgrounds (myself included) into areas that needed filling (while doubling psychology when we have major shortages) and gatekeep a significant amount of degrees to the wealthy areas, effectively fucking over regional students who struggle immensely as it is with affording university.

We have a new government and they still haven’t reversed it, and I’ll be about 70k in debt for a three year degree because I had a period of illness and had to drop and retake classes in my second year. I’ll barely be able to afford my masters degree before reaching my student loan cap.

[slog-the-book]

australian university students are so cooked. wdym we have to be paying more than 10% internet rate for our HECS 😭 can somebody kill off our fat red politicians already 😭😭

[qnewsau]

 “I see myself as an accountability mechanism”: Allegra Spender

New Post has been published on https://qnews.com.au/i-see-myself-as-an-accountability-mechanism-allegra-spender/

 “I see myself as an accountability mechanism”: Allegra Spender

Ahead of the 2025 federal election, QNews meets Member for Wentworth Allegra Spender, who embodies the teal movement and its freedom from two-party politics. Interview by Peter Hackney.

Australia’s teal independents are exactly that: independents. As such, they don’t have a leader.

But if they did, the logical choice would be Zali Steggall – the ‘original teal’ who wrested the seat of Warringah from Tony Abbott in 2019 – or the woman sitting in front of QNews at her electoral office in Edgecliff: Allegra Spender.

Member for the Division of Wentworth since 21 May 2022, Spender is, in many ways, the perfect politician. Eloquent and photogenic, she exudes warmth and friendliness but leaves you in no doubt she’s up for the rough and tumble of federal politics.

Like all seven teals currently holding office federally, she’s a centrist, giving her the capacity to understand and represent constituents from both sides of the political spectrum.

Non-binary politics

Spender’s position on the political spectrum, encompassing elements of both left and right, reflects Wentworth itself, an electorate that features harsh inner-city deprivation, as well as five of Australia’s ten richest postcodes.

It contains over 500 social housing homes in Woolloomooloo as well as the richest street in the nation: Wolseley Road, Point Piper, where the median house price is $45 million.

Spender says her independence means she can engage with her wildly diverse constituents in a meaningful way, without having to tow party lines.

“When I talk to people, it’s clear their views are quite nuanced – but when you only have two choices, it creates division and false dichotomies,” she tells QNews.

“One of the things people say to me is, ‘Before this, we didn’t have a choice.’ I think that’s important for so many people. They haven’t had a choice: it was red or blue, left or right, or nothing.

“Being outside that means you can genuinely consult with people. You can take each issue on its own merits and engage with your constituents, and listen and think without having to consider, ‘What does my party think about this?’

Allegra Spender says her independence means she can engage with her diverse constituents in a meaningful way. Photo: supplied.

  “An accountability mechanism”

Asked for examples, Spender immediately gives two: relief on HECS/HELP debt indexation and the recognition of LGBTQIA+ people in the Australian census.

“One of the big issues at a local level has been HECS debts for young people,” she says.

“I was seeing so many kids, young adults, who said, ‘Look, I’m trying to save to buy and apartment. My HECs debt’s just gone up seven per cent. My wage hasn’t gone up seven per cent and I thought this was meant to be an interest-free loan.’”

After a solid year working as part of the crossbench, the government caved to the demands of Spender and her colleagues, with HECs debts now pegged to the lower of the Consumer Price Index and the Wage Price Index.

The reform, backdated to 2023, wiped out $3 billion in debt, benefitting over three million Australians.

On the issue of collecting census data on LGBTQIA+ people, Spender says: “Frankly, the government squibbed and lost their nerve. And the Liberals were never going to be the people who stood up for this, so it just needed somebody else to step up and say, ‘You know what? Stop being so afraid. This is not a big issue. These are values that our community backs.’

“Labor was jumping at shadows. And the Opposition didn’t make such a big thing of it in the end.

“I see myself as an accountability mechanism in the parliament,” she says. “Someone who can hold the government to account but who doesn’t oppose things for the sake of it, as any party in opposition tends to do.”

Small ‘l’ liberal

This modus operandi has seen Spender disparaged as both a “Labor party stooge” and a “Liberal-lite” MP.

Asked about these descriptions, Spender replies: “I’m a pragmatist. I’ve worked across the parliament on different issues. I’ve worked with the Coalition on industrial relations issues, I’ve worked with others on other issues.”

Pushed to further clarify her politics, she responds: “I would call myself a small ‘l’ liberal. I’m economically pretty conservative. I think the way to build prosperity is through the private sector, with government putting in appropriate guardrails and safety nets.

“I would also say that I’m socially very liberal in the sense that I think it’s up to people to run their own lives. It’s not my job to tell them how to do that.”

Although economically conservative, Allegra Spender says she is “socially very liberal”. She is pictured in the 2023 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade. Photo: supplied.

  Dutton at the door

If the polls are correct, 2025 will be a very tight election. There’s every chance neither party will win 75 seats outright and will have to call on the support of independents to form government.

Last month, in an interview with Karl Stefanovic on Channel Nine’s 60 Minutes, opposition leader Peter Dutton named Allegra Spender as one of three independents he’d tap if neither party reaches the magic number of 75 (the other two independents being Bob Katter and Dai Le).

The prospect worries the more socially liberal of Spender’s constituents, especially among the LGBTQIA+ community. In parliament, Dutton has consistently opposed increasing legal protections for LGBTQIA+ people and was against marriage equality.

When asked outright if she’d support Dutton if it came to the crunch, Spender’s response is best summarised as ‘it depends’.

“Firstly, we’ve got to have stable government. And so, I will look at the numbers, I will look at what the crossbench looks like, I’ll look at the parliament and I’ll work with others,” she says.

She adds that, as an independent, “I’ll always stand up for the values of our community, regardless of who is in government. My priorities are climate action, building a smarter economy and creating a kinder community, including standing up for the LGBTQIA+ community.”

Regardless of who becomes the next Prime Minister of Australia, the 14th Member for Wentworth makes one promise: “On an issue-by-issue basis, I’ll continue to vote and advocate and legislate on the basis of what’s important to this community.

“I’ll continue to push the issues that my community tell me are important.”

For the latest LGBTIQA+ Sister Girl and Brother Boy news, entertainment, community stories in Australia, visit qnews.com.au. Check out our latest magazines or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

[colitcomedia]

Millions of Australians with HECS debt are set for substantial relief thanks to the Albanese government’s latest reforms. The changes include a higher repayment threshold and reduced indexation rates, providing financial relief for around three million people. The ATO has already started processing credits for eligible Australians.

[ghostneon-arts]

Tell me why a whole pair of hands and eyes in a vent has me in such a chokehold it's not even funny sdfgh

Hector's first interaction had me folding so fast I'm genuinely excited to see what's in store for release! Can't wait to see the man behind the vent especially with how insistent he is to stay put up there.

Unfortunately for him this human's the curious sort so he's never knowing peace again Ig.

[verticalstorm]

The way you drew Hector in the last posted piece gave me a ton of confidence in my body, and I needed you to know that. Thank you.

Oh my god??? This is one of the greatest compliments I’ve ever received thank you so much 😭 Here is another sketch page. For you my friend

I didn’t include it because I felt like it didn’t mesh with the tone of the other 2 but I still quite like it <3

[dendixia]

my beautiful ggg doodles compilation go be free!

[yoku-yukihime]

ive been drawing komachi doing jerma things lately. dont really know why.

[veronicaawakens]

Remember, any voluntary payments you make throughout the year are removed from your debt before indexation is applied. Even $5 a week is gonna get you $260 less indexation.

Something something fair go

[sapphicslovewillgraham]

Hannibal-Extended-Universe fic prompt:

Spacedogs sugardaddy AU fic where Nigel is a high-level drug dealer who’s been jaded and burned by love to the point he’s completely sworn off relationships after moving to the U.S. He’s technically a serial killer, but that’s just the nature of running a drug business…

Adam is recently out of the closet and out of a job. Having autism can make a classic 9-5 literal hell, so he answers a shady freelancing request about creating a secure webpage that can process international bank transactions.

He meets with Nigel who is instantly infatuated by such a unique, intelligent, and beautiful boy. Adam is so authentically himself, it forces Nigel to confront painful truths related to his sexuality, capacity for love, and his growing desires as a dominant to caretake and spoil someone who truly needs him.

[nando161mando]

How big will the next HECS indexation rise be? | ABC News

[dirk-menace]

i had a dream that some guy made a youtube look outside theory in which he said that tthhhhuhhhLEIGH leigh in her beast form has those arms reaching out of her other mouths (anf in regards to the lowest he INSISTS its her cooch) because she was/is pregnant. i beg of thee someone erase this from my brai

[mement0--m0ri]

Jfc

Broke my own heart by doing the math.

500 hours at minimum wage in Australia comes to $12,050.

Meanwhile, I had to pay/hecs 2k to do placement + use my own vehicle to drive to home visits (most around 30mins away) and pay for my own fuel.

Wtf Australia.

I finally finished my 500 hr unpaid placement today and✨️ holy fuck✨️am I glad that is over.

Don't get me wrong, I had the dream placement and I learned so much.

But I was already experiencing autistic burnout BEFORE I started in July. And this last week has been absolutely hellish. Like weekly therapy and the odd call to help lines in the last couple of weeks. Mental health in the toilet. I've had 7, full on, 30-90 min autistic meltdowns since 8am yesterday. Ya girl is exhausted and ready to embrace my transition to potato for the next 2 days.

[finelythreadedsky]

the whiplash between hecuba lamenting how she's been left childless, mourning polyxena and then polydorus as her last remaining child, and the moments when she tries to traffick cassandra and capitalize on her actual last surviving child's position as agamemnon's slave...

[gunpowder-tim]

someghimg something friendships last for entire lifetimes and i hope ours lasts for many more