22 March 2017
Hughes Bill Reckless For Students - Dunne
UnitedFuture leader, Hon Peter Dunne, has voted against the Student Loan Scheme (First Home Repayment Diversion)
Amendment Bill this afternoon.
"This is a reckless Bill from the same party that has said that the housing market is overheated and that students are
taking on too much debt.
"It simply does not make sense to vote for a Bill that would encourage students who are already in debt to take out even
more debt to buy an investment that is overpriced, especially when the co-leader of the Green party wants to severely
reduce the value of houses should they be in Government."
"Rather, the UnitedFuture approach to getting our young families and in-need into a more secure future is both
consistent and sensible.
"We would abolish fees on tertiary education and pay for it in part by removing student allowances resulting in
student's ending their university careers with much less debt to pay off.
"We would introduce a scheme for young families to take their Working for Families annual entitlement out in a lump sum
to cover housing costs, should they choose to do that, freeing up thousands of dollars for young families do use without
affecting the Government books.
"Finally, we would initiate a national housing summit to cut through the political games we see on housing to establish
an all-of-New Zealand approach to solving issues of affordability, access, supply and support.
"This is the plan of a sensible, forward looking party that wants to make a real change in the lives of our younger and
future generations.
"This Bill does not meet that same standard," Mr Dunne concluded.
Ends.