Policy 01 / Fair Share Student Levy
Revive Australia is calling on federal political parties to cancel all existing HECS and HELP debt held by Australian citizens, then recover the cost through a temporary annual levy on international students.
The Fair Share Student Levy is the first proposal in Revive Australia's agenda to make higher education fairer for Australians, reduce student visa inflows and restore integrity to international education.
The national interest
Millions of Australians entered the workforce carrying government debt. Compulsory repayments reduce their take-home pay during the years they are trying to buy a home, raise a family and establish financial security.
International students purchase access to Australian institutions, infrastructure, employment opportunities and potential migration pathways. That access should produce a clear, measurable return for Australian citizens.
The Fair Share Student Levy delivers that return directly. Australian citizens receive relief immediately. International education repays the Commonwealth over time.
Estimated face value of eligible Australian citizen HECS and HELP debt to be cancelled.
Annual charge for every primary holder of a Student visa, Subclass 500.
Modelled gross annual revenue at 750,000 liable international students.
Maximum recovery period. The levy ends earlier if the certified target is reached.
How it would work
A federal political party adopting the proposal would legislate three clear actions.
Cancel the debt
Every eligible Australian citizen's existing HECS and HELP balance falls to zero on commencement day. No application, income test, age limit, service requirement or waiting period.
Collect the levy
Every primary Student visa holder pays a starting levy of $11,000 for each twelve-month levy period across higher education, VET, English-language study, schools and non-award courses.
Close the account
Receipts enter a dedicated recovery account. Once the certified cancellation cost and authorised administration costs are recovered, the levy automatically falls to zero.
The 17% test
Official 2025 figures put education-related spending at almost $55 billion across 851,780 international students. That is about $64,600 per student.
HECS and HELP repayments are taken through the tax system once the statutory threshold is reached. Australians fund the government and elect it, yet still carry debt for studying in their own country.
An $11,000 levy is roughly a 17% increase on average total annual education-related spending. It is the additional price of choosing access to Australia's institutions and opportunities.
A market already supporting average annual spending of about $64,600 per student can absorb an additional $11,000. Australians should not keep carrying compulsory debt repayments to preserve the existing price of access for foreign students.
A filter by design
The levy is intended to do more than recover the cost of debt cancellation. It raises the financial threshold for access to Australia's student visa system.
Some prospective students will decide Australia is no longer worth the price. That is a feature of the policy. Those who still choose Australia will have demonstrated a greater capacity and willingness to invest in studying here.
Raise the financial threshold for entry
Reduce low-commitment student visa demand
Favour applicants genuinely committed to study
The recovery model
The $80 billion figure is a planning estimate. Before commencement, the ATO would certify the exact eligible face value. That figure would become the statutory recovery target. The levy rate could be reconciled prospectively as student numbers change, but the target and ten-year maximum would remain fixed.
Clear scope
Every Australian citizen holding eligible HECS or HELP debt at the legislated snapshot receives full cancellation, including Australian citizens living overseas and dual citizens.
Every primary holder of a Student visa, Subclass 500, pays the levy. No exemption based on nationality, institution, course, age, scholarship status or education sector.
Built-in controls
The legislation would protect the recovery target, publish the numbers and terminate the levy when its job is done.
Dedicated account
All receipts are recorded in a protected Fair Share Student Recovery Account and applied against the certified cost of cancellation and authorised administration.
Annual reconciliation
Treasury publishes liable student numbers, gross and net revenue, administration costs and the outstanding recovery balance each year.
Prospective adjustment
If student numbers change, future rates can be adjusted under a legislated formula to recover the certified amount within ten years.
Automatic sunset
Once the recovery target is met, the collection power expires. Continuing the levy would require a separate Act of Parliament.
The broader agenda
The Fair Share Student Levy is the first proposal in Revive Australia's Higher Education and Student Visa Reform Agenda. Further policies will be released to address misuse of student visas, migration-driven enrolment, provider accountability and the treatment of Australian students within their own education system.
Higher Education & Student Visa Reform Agenda
Revive Australia is asking every federal political party to adopt and implement the Fair Share Student Levy, then confront the wider failures in higher education and the student visa system.