Adelaide woman Brooke Robran exposes issues facing her generation

A young Australian has sparked a heated debate after he took older generations to task, saying they were ruining young people’s chances of buying their own home.

According to Adelaide-based influencer Brooke Robran, young Australians are finding it difficult to leave home due to skyrocketing HECS debt and unaffordable house prices.

“How on earth can people in their early twenties leave home now?” Ms Robran asked in a video she posted on social media.

‘Generations before us really screwed us over here.

‘When people went to university it was free. Now people who go to university have an average of $26,000 in HECS debt.

“People like me don’t leave home until they’re 30 because they can’t afford to. I swear you’d have to work four different jobs to make the amount of money you need to buy a house now.”

The university was once free for students after Australia’s 21st Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam, introduced laws.

During his four-year term, Mr Whitlam abolished tuition fees in 1974 and introduced a stipend for full-time students.

Adelaide-based influencer Brooke Robran, 21, claimed older generations had ruined young Australians’ chances of leaving home early and buying their own home

In 1989, compulsory tuition fees were reintroduced under the Labor government of Bob Hawke. The HECS program was also introduced.

Initially, all degrees had a uniform annual fee of $1,800. This changed in 1996 when the Howard coalition government introduced a three-tiered fee system.

Fees rose from a flat rate of $2,454 to $3,300 for Band One degrees, such as education and humanities, and to $5,500 for Band Three degrees, which include law and accountancy.

Both parties in Australian politics have since agreed that students should continue to pay the costs of higher education.

Data from comparison website Finder shows the average HECS debt is $40,000, with 21 per cent of current or former students owing between $40,000 and $100,000. Just over one per cent owe more than $100,000.

People with debt are also increasingly concerned about the size of their debt, with 63 percent somewhat or very concerned about their ability to repay their debt, compared to 54 percent last year.

However, twelve percent do not think they will ever be able to fully repay the debt.

Ms Robran said one contributing factor was the excessive HECS debt students accrue during their university studies, something that was previously free for older Australians (Stock photo of students graduating from the Australian National University in Canberra)

Many Australians agreed with Ms Robran, saying they were unable to move or buy a home because of their high student debt.

“Twenty-one years old and still in college. $42,000 in student loans to HECS, no savings and trying to get my degree,” one said.

‘My HECS debt is $80,000. I will never be able to get a house. I did a one year engineering degree and then a vet degree which took five years, so six years of uni in total and unfortunately that’s the cost,’ added a second.

‘I’m really trying to work on it, but inflation is ruining everything at the moment. The government can’t see how much younger communities are struggling to pay for daily expenses,’ added a third.

A fourth said: ‘I’m 30, have $40,000 saved for a [home] down payment, need at least double that now. People are buying $800k fixer uppers these days, its insane.

However, some felt that older generations are not responsible for the situation young Australians find themselves in, and that the responsibility for this lies with the government.

“Don’t blame the elderly, blame our government,” one person wrote.

“It’s not the fault of the older generation. Do your research, it’s the government’s fault,” a second person agreed.

Others argued that young Australians have to work harder if they want to buy a home in the current market.

The generational debate has escalated in recent years as house prices soar, particularly benefiting the older generation.

“I didn’t go to university. I started my own business at 18 and owned a few properties by 25. You can’t blame the generation before that because you’re not making it happen,” said one.

“I left home at 19 and built my first house. You just have to work hard and focus on your goals and it will pay off,” wrote another.

A third added: ‘My partner and I both had trades (hairdresser and plumber) and we bought our own house at 25! It’s hard but possible.’