In 1989 the Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS) was introduced by the Hawke government, that enabled an increased number of students to attend university. The contingent loans scheme remains in place thirty-six years after its introduction and has been tinkered with by politicians of various stripes. This has seen students forced to pay a higher proportion of the costs of their education, with the Morrison Coalition government’s Job Ready Reforms in 2020 radically increasing the cost of some university degrees.

Stephen Hill asked Professor Bruce Chapman, often known as the father of HECS how the educational loans system have been able to achieve political longevity.

Image: Stock Photo ID: 318232658

Produced By: Stephen Hill

Featured In Story: Emeritus Professor Bruce Champion, Australian National University, Research School of Economics

First aired on The Wire, Thursday 9 January 2025