In Reps Question Time yesterday Independent member for Fowler, Dai Le asked the Treasurer about indexation of students’ loans “on top of their already exorbitant HECS debt”

“Young people are our future and deserve fair and equitable access to education,” she said, asking Dr Chalmers, “what will the government do to ease their debt pressure with your budget surplus?”

To which he replied, “obviously, the indexation of student loans has not been changed by this government. These are the usual arrangements that apply,” adding the government “will do what we can to help” young people, including students.

He might want to work on that. The Greens have run hard on student debt and it is has media traction. Something, the government and universities, cannot afford is a popular loss of faith in (what CMM still sometimes calls) HECs.