Legislation has recently been enacted which delivers on the 2025/26 Federal Budget announcement to reduce student debts.
Pursuant to this legislation:
- there is a one-off 20% reduction to Higher Education Loan Program debts and other student loans that were incurred on or before 1 June 2025;
- the minimum repayment threshold is increased from $54,435 in the 2024/25 income year to $67,000 in the 2025/26 income year (to continue to increase each year with the growth in wages); and
- a marginal repayment system is introduced where compulsory student loan repayments are calculated only on income above the new $67,000 threshold (rather than having it based on a percentage of the repayment income).