PoliticalClaims.au

**Did Labor do something similar?** **YES - Labor has both tightened and loosened HECS repayment conditions across its terms in government:** 1. **HECS Introduction (1989)**: The Hawke Labor government created the entire student loan system that the Coalition later modified [2][3]. 2. **2011-2012 Changes**: The Gillard Labor government reduced the discount for upfront HECS payments from 20% to 10% and voluntary repayments from 10% to 5%, effectively making it more expensive for students to pay off debt early [1]. 3. **2013-2014 Budget**: Labor announced the complete abolition of upfront payment discounts (legislated 2015), further reducing incentives for early repayment [1]. 4. **SA-HELP Introduction (2012)**: The Gillard government introduced SA-HELP, requiring students to take out additional loans (or pay upfront) for student services and amenities fees - effectively expanding the scope of student debt [1]. 5. **Recent Reversal (2024-2025)**: The Albanese government has taken the opposite approach, cutting debt by 20% and raising thresholds - but this represents a reversal from Labor's earlier positions rather than consistent policy [5][6]. **Comparative Scale**: The Coalition's 2016 threshold reduction affected repayment timing but did not alter the fundamental structure.