Our special pleading correspondent report

The Australian Veterinary Association says Senator Faruqi’s (Greens, NSW) bill to raise the threshold for student loan repayments and end CPI indexation  of debts (CMM Monday), “will provide some relief to early career veterinarians.” But its response to the Senate committee inquiring into the bill goes further, proposing a “HELP Forgiveness Scheme” for 80 new vets a year who go to work in remote and regional Australia.

“The veterinary workforce shortage is significantly more acute in rural and regional area. Regional practices have in recent years been closing clinics because of a lack of veterinary staff,” the AVA argues.

And pray, why not, given the Commonwealth will cancel HELP debts for doctors and nurse practitioners who live and work in rural/remote areas, “the places that need them the most,” Education Minister Jason Clare and colleagues announced in November.