HECS reform “not a material change”

Student debt was previously just indexed to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate, but the 2024 budget will change this to the lower of the Wage Price Index (WPI) or CPI. This will be backdated to retroactively apply to last year’s indexation (7.1%), which the government estimates could wipe more than $3 billion from…

Debt, danger or a decade of fighting: how a lack of legal services leaves DV victims with dire choices | Domestic violence

Tens of thousands of women fleeing family violence are unable to get legal assistance each year, forcing them to represent themselves in court, incur huge debts to pay legal fees, agree to unfair parenting and child support arrangements, or stay in the abusive relationships. Women fleeing domestic violence say their ex-partners can use the family…