Curtin Dr Viktor Ko

• Effective Date: The 20% reduction will be applied to outstanding student loan balances as of 1 June 2025.​
• Eligibility: All individuals with outstanding HELP or other student loan debts on that date will automatically receive the reduction. This includes loans such as HECS-HELP, FEE-HELP, OS-HELP, SA-HELP, VET Student Loans, and Australian Apprenticeship Support Loans.
• Automatic Application: The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) will apply the reduction automatically; no action is required from borrowers.​
• Indexation Adjustment: The 20% reduction will occur before the annual indexation on 1 June 2025, ensuring that indexation applies only to the reduced loan balance
• Average Savings: For a typical HELP debt of $27,600, the 20% reduction equates to a savings of approximately $5,520.​
• Total Relief: This measure is expected to eliminate around $16 billion in student debt, benefiting approximately three million Australians.​

3 day guarantee, to unlock more of our workforce.

This legislation ensures that, starting from 5 January 2026, all families eligible for the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) will receive a minimum of three days (72 hours) of subsidised care per fortnight for each child, regardless of their work, study, or volunteering commitments.

Universal Access: All CCS-eligible families are entitled to at least three days of subsidised early childhood education and care per week, irrespective of their participation in work or study activities.

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• Savings for Families: An estimated 66,700 families are expected to save an average of $1,370 per year on childcare costs, with lower-income families potentially saving more. 
• Broader Impact: Over 126,000 children, particularly from lower-income and disadvantaged backgrounds, are anticipated to benefit from increased access to early learning opportunities. 

Training the next generation of trades.

Launched in 2023, the Fee-Free TAFE program offers fully subsidised training in priority areas such as:​

• Construction and housing
• Aged care, disability support, and early childhood education
• Health care
• Technology and digital skills
• Hospitality and tourism
• Agriculture and sovereign capability

In 2025, the program expanded with an additional 20,000 fee-free places, including 5,000 pre-apprenticeship spots, to bolster the construction workforce

• General Patients: The maximum co-payment for PBS medicines is frozen at $31.60 for the year 2025, preventing the usual annual increase due to inflation. ​
• Concession Card Holders: The co-payment remains at $7.70 and will stay at this rate until 2030, providing extended relief for pensioners and other eligible individuals.

Largest investment in Medicare since its founding.

$2.3 billion Cheaper Home Batteries Program seeks to reduce the upfront cost of installing home battery systems by 30%, translating to an average saving of around $4,000 per system. The initiative aims to facilitate the installation of one million new batteries by 2030, thereby enhancing energy independence and reducing electricity bills for Australian households.​

Key Features:

• Eligibility: Homeowners installing Virtual Power Plant (VPP)-ready battery systems alongside new or existing rooftop solar panels.
• Battery Capacity: Eligible systems must have a capacity between 5–50 kWh.
• Administration: Delivered through the existing Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES).
• Additional Support: Small businesses and community facilities can access subsidies for batteries up to 50 kWh, with total system sizes up to 100 kWh.​

The program is scheduled to commence on 1 July 2025, contingent upon Labor's re-election.