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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Caitlin Cassidy Education reporter

‘Early Christmas present’: Hecs debt relief is here – here’s what it means for you

university students on campus
Initially, 1.6 million people will benefit from the 30% cut to student debt, with the rest to follow by the end of next week. Photograph: Dean Lewins/AAP

When Anthony Albanese fronted the media last November to announce Labor would cut 20% of all student debt if he won government, he described the move as “about opening the doors of opportunity – and widening them”.

A year later, the key election promise finally came into effect on Thursday, with 1.6 million people receiving the “early Christmas present” from the Australian Taxation Office on Thursday.

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