Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has declared he is "not about to make multibillion-dollar commitments on the run" amid questions over relieving the financial burden for thousands of university students, SkyNews reports.
Mr Albanese was quizzed on the issue of making university free for careers such as nursing at the National Press Club on Monday, a day after an announcement from Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews.
Mr Andrews on Sunday said the Victorian government would offer free university degrees to more than 10,000 nurses and midwives as part of a $270 million initiative.
The Prime Minister said he had spoken to Mr Andrews about the "good initiative" but stopped short of agreeing to take the scheme further by wiping some or all of the HECS debts for those already in the workforce.
Under the Victorian scheme, domestic students completing undergraduate study in nursing or midwifery either in 2023 and 2024 will receive a scholarship of up to $16,500.
Students will receive $9,000 over three years and another $7,500 if they work in the state public health system for two years.
A postgraduate midwifery incentive program will also be expanded to cover course fees for 150 existing nurses who undertake specialist studies in midwifery.
Scholarships of up to $10,000 will also be offered to nurses who complete postgraduate studies in intensive care, cancer care and paediatrics, as well as enrolled nurses who wish to upgrade their skills to a registered nurse.
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