Delivered

I’ve spoken to so many people across our community who are struggling with the cost-of-living. Some of the measures I’ve championed to support those most in need include:


• Wiped $3 billion in student debt for over 3 million Australians – delivering around $1,200 in savings for the average graduate.
• Helping deliver 80,000 new secure rental homes – through changes to the Build to Rent scheme negotiated by the crossbench​.
•  More than $1 billion to support home electrification – helping 110,000 households with energy upgrades like solar, batteries, insulation and more efficient appliances.


You can learn about how I'm delivering for Wentworth here.

Future Plans


My 6-point plan to lower living costs will help put downward pressure on inflation today, whilst permanently reducing price pressure in future. I want to:


• Lower income taxes – so young working people can earn more and get ahead. This should start with indexing tax brackets to inflation to end bracket creep and start a broader tax reform process. Details here.
• Reduce the cost of renting and home ownership – by sharpening incentives for housebuilding; switching-out stamp duty; creating a new industry regulator; and doubling investment in social housing. 
• Deliver my Permanent Energy Bill Relief Plan – which would reduce power bills for good for over 800,000 households through financial support for rooftop solar, home batteries, and energy-saving upgrades. 
• Lower childcare costs - taking the pressure off Wentworth families.
• Reinstate fiscal discipline - by passing my Better Value for Taxpayers Bill and getting back to honest and responsible budgeting. Details here.
• Keep a lid on student debt - to stop young Australians from falling behind, through a smarter system of indexation; fair treatment of HECS by financial institutions, and getting rid of the 'Job Ready Graduates' program.​


Watch & Read


• Australian Financial Review - Teals push to index income tax thresholds to inflation (link)
• Sky News - Allegra Spender push to end bracket creep (link)
• AFR - Spender unveils home battery plan (link)
• Financial Review - CFMEU rout could pave way for foreign tradies to relieve housing crunch (link)
• ABC RN Drive - Labor housing fund not adequate as it is: Allegra Spender (link)
• Sky News – Allegra Spender calls for Australia to focus on growing housing (link)
• ABC News: Spender asks Education Minister to change HECS indexation (link)
• ABC News: Former assistant governor says childcare pay rise will worry RBA (link)

Speeches in Parliament


HECS

• The Universities Accord Bill: Allegra welcomes changes to the HELP indexation scheme to make tertiary education more affordable, 10 October 2024 (link)
• Student debt and its impacts on young people: Allegra outlines the barriers that HECS debt, housing and tax are creating for young people, 25 March 2024 (link)

Housing


• Supporting boarding houses: Allegra highlights the importance of saving boarding houses in Paddington which are critical in addressing the housing shortage, 26 November 2024 (link)
• Calls for action on the housing crisis: Allegra identifies four key areas of reform to address the housing crisis, 14 August 2024 (link)
• Urging for greater housing supply: Allegra expresses her satisfaction that the National Cabinet has agreed to end no-fault eviction and to limit increases of rents to once a year, 4 September 2023 (link)
• Calls for a National Assembly: Allegra and the crossbench call for a citizens' assembly into housing affordability, 19 June 2023 (link)
• The Housing Australia Future Fund & National Housing Supply: Allegra acknowledges the significance of housing affordability and supports the Bill, 15 February 2023 (link)
• Housing affordability: Allegra urges that the government must make a fundamental shift in housing policy to address the crisis, 28 September 2022 (link)

Permanent Energy Bill Relief Plan


• Calls for a People Power Plan: Allegra calls on the government to fund a people power plan to lower energy bills at the May budget, 24 May 2024 (link)
• Power Bill Relief: Allegra joined her crossbench colleagues a proposal that would turbocharge the installation of more than 10,000 additional hot water heat pumps, induction cooktops and energy-efficient home heating each year, 16 October 2023 (link)