Australian Prime Minister: Reducing student debt is his government's top priority

Melbourne, Aostalia - Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told his administration colleagues on Friday that reducing student debt would be the first legislative priority for his administration, which was awarded to power in the first U.S. election, where the baby boomers have surpassed younger voters.

Albanians have spoken in a crowded room in the parliament building for the first time since his government won an election victory on May 3, arriving at left-wing Labor MPs.

The fight is growing for young Australians, especially those who are burdening student loans – facing the purchase of their first home is a major election issue due to soaring property prices and a lack of new housing construction.

Albanis said the bill to reduce student debt by 20% would be the first legislation proposed when parliament was resumed in late July.

"I think it's not only important, but our perspective on our commitment to intergenerational equity," Albanis said.

Baby boomers are often defined as people born between World War II and 1964. Their demand has long dominated the Australian election.

As the counting of the vote on Friday continues, Labour is expected to win 88 seats in the 150-seat House, and in the lower chamber, parties need a majority to form the government. The party has 78 seats in the last parliament.

The conservative opposition coalition of the parties may only require 41 seats.

Albanians praised the diversity of Labor-elected legislators and said that once the vote count is completed, at least 57% of them are expected to be women. Australia's population was 50.7% in the last census of 2021.

"I... see people of different races, different backgrounds, different experiences, different beliefs. I see a group of people who really represent our country," Albanes told his government colleagues.

However, the government has been criticized for revoking the attorney general of the government’s highest Jews, Mark Dreyfus.

Dreyfus staff member Stephen Spencer said the government will be Australia's first since 2010. Dreyfus is one of three Jewish MPs in the government.

Cabinet ministers are determined by parties that are entitled to have a certain percentage of ministerial seats that reflect their share of government legislators.

Foreign Secretary Penny Wong, Defense Secretary Richard Marles, Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Treasurer Katy Gallagher have ensured they will hold their portfolios. But Albanys has not announced the remaining ministers yet.

On Friday, a meeting of labor legislators recognized 30 appointments from the cabinet and junior ministry.

Health Minister Mark Bulter said Junior Minister Anne Aly is expected to be promoted to the cabinet next week, which will mean a Muslim woman takes over Hirsch.

“It’s been a tough day for Ed and Mark,” Burt told ABC.

Sydney Muslim community leader Jamal Rifi called on Albanese to intervene to keep Sydney MP Husic in the cabinet.

"The Prime Minister needs to reflect on the message he has sent to all these people who are working hard in the southwest of Sydney," Riffy said. Southwest Sydney has a large Muslim population.

Husic is one of the government's most critical critics on how Israel launched a war for Hamas in Gaza.

"I feel very strongly that Palestinians are being punished collectively ... for Hamas' barbarism," Hamas said two weeks after the attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.