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.

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