Labour pledges to fast track fee-free study

Labour has made it’s biggest pitch of the campaign so far with a promise to deliver the first year of three years free post-secondary education a year earlier in 2018 and boost student allowances and loans by $50 per week as part of a big jump in education spending.

Leader Jacinda Ardern released the policy yesterday as finance spokesman Grant Robertson updated the party’s fiscal plan that included the extra spending.

The move sees extra education spending jump from $417 million this year under Labour’s original plan to $781m and from $1.5 billion to $2b by 2022 as the fee free promise is fast-tracked.

Ardern unveiled the plan at Western Springs College in Auckland to applause from the students.

‘‘Students have told us that the priority needs to be living costs. Just getting by week-to-week has become a significant barrier to many people continuing to study,’’ she said. ’’Labour will therefore boost living cost assistance for students by $50 a week from the start of 2018.’’

This applied to both the means tested student allowance and universal student loan living costs allowance, bringing each up to around $230 a week. Following the boost they would remain tied to CPI.

Robertson said the fiscal plan, updated after last week’s preelection opening of the Government’s books, showed Labour would deliver a significant investment in public services ‘‘while responsibly managing country’s finances’’.

The plan sees Labour spending an additional $8 billion on health, $6b into education and $5b on families over the forecast period.

National campaign chair Steven Joyce said Labour was planning $13.7b in additional spending and $11b more debt over four years.

‘‘This is not the stage of the economic cycle to be increasing debt,’’ Joyce said. ‘‘We should be reducing debt and putting money aside for the next rainy day.’’ the