Hon Max Bradford
Minister for Tertiary Education

MEDIA RELEASE
8th October, 1999

LABOUR’S LOAN HYPOCRISY

Labour’s hypocrisy over student loans appears to have no limits, Tertiary Education Minister Max Bradford said.

Mr Bradford was commenting on Labour’s statement that possible changes to National’s Student Loan Scheme are a ‘clumsy bribe’.

“Yet, by promising free loans while studying, Labour is not doing anything but bribing students.

‘A much more substantive issue is the fatal hypocrisy of Labour’s policy. Helen Clark professes her concern for students and yet is wiling to saddle them with debt.

“If you give people free money they will undoubtably take advantage of it.

“Labour’s policy would give every incentive for students to increase debt levels because they wouldn’t have to pay interest on loans while studying.

“Many students would be left with larger debts when they complete their studies and under Labour’s high tax policies would have less money to pay off that debt when they join the workforce,” Mr Bradford said.

ENDS

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