Nigel Smith is standing as an ungrouped (independent) candidate for the Senate and is determined to get higher education back on track.

He wants to replace Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS) debt with scholarships and improve the living away from home allowance, to give everyone a “fair go” at getting a tertiary education.

“Young people are being screwed at the moment by both sides of politics,” Mr Smith said.

“The Baby Boomer generation, including myself and many of our current politicians, received free university education with an adequate living away from home allowance. 

“This helped the Baby Boomers to become the most successful generation – and the only true lucky Australians.”

The average HECS debt is $30,000, which “is just wrong”.

“We’re asking young Australians to start life with a debt and struggle from day one,” Mr Smith said.

“Education used to be treated like an investment – nowadays it’s treated as cost that must be recovered. An educated population is the foundation of a good economy.

“People who get a degree earn more money and pay more back in tax over their lives.

“About 45 years ago someone took a punt on me succeeding at university, getting out there and contributing to the community, and I’m glad they did.”

Under Mr Smith’s vision, everyone aged three to 23 would get a free education.

The $50 billion in corporate tax cuts the Coalition has promised over the next 10 years could be redirected to fund university scholarships and a better living away from home allowance.

Mr Smith decided to stand as an ungrouped candidate so he could remain unbound by party politics.

“The problem being in a party is you can’t be a free thinker – we need free thinkers in there to start changing things,” he said.

Along with education, Mr Smith says he has a plan to fix the nation’s environment, research, and agriculture and manufacturing industries.

“If you look out for me on the ballot paper, I will look out for you in the Senate,” he said.