Education Minister Christopher Pyne says he is keeping an open mind about the idea of selling off the debt the Government is owed under the Higher Education Contribution Scheme.
There have been suggestions the Government's upcoming Commission of Audit will look at privatising the $23 billion student debt portfolio as a way to ease budget pressure.
The Government says it has no plans to sell off the HECS debt, but Mr Pyne says it should not be ruled out.
"Britain have sold their HECS debt as an asset and we should investigate whether that is a sensible move for us to do so," he said.
Industry insiders say the sale would likely earn the Government between $11 billion and $16 billion.
UK hacking trial opensThe high-profile hacking trial of former News International chief Rebekah Brooks has kicked off in London.
Exporter 'sorry' for koala deathsAustralia's largest eucalyptus woodchip exporter has its environmental licensing stripped for killing and injuring koalas.
Palmer says deal watertightClive Palmer brushes off doubts about his party's powerful Senate voting alliance with Ricky Muir.
Counting down to age pensionThousands of Australians scraping by on Newstart are waiting to reach old age so they can afford to live. (video)
NSA 'tracked 60 million calls'Spain demands answers after a report claims US spies eavesdropped on millions of phone calls in the country.
Rock legend Lou Reed dies
By North America correspondent Michael Vincent, wires
American rock pioneer and Velvet Underground frontman Lou Reed has died at the age of 71.
Industrial stoush takes shape
The Government prepares for a row with unions over the reestablishment of the Building Construction Commission.
Program 'could cause deaths'
A professor is urging the ABC to pull a Catalyst episode on cholesterol drugs.
Deadly storm batters UK
Three people are dead after a massive storm lashed the south coast of England and the Netherlands.
Powerlines sparking bushfires
Demands to shut down power ahead of severe bushfire conditions are in the spotlight after the NSW blazes.
'I hope you like my pictures'
Sylvester Stallone opens an exhibition of his paintings at a museum in St Petersburg.
In pictures: peregrine webcam
Peregrine falcons raise their chicks high on a cliff at a secret location in Tasmania.
Second chance for hero dogs
By Courtney Wilson
RAAF dogs are now to be considered for retirement rather than being put down at the end of their service.
Wine battle loomsTreasury Wine Estates is facing a shareholder class action over the performance of its US operations.
Bowser price reliefThe cost of petrol is expected to continue falling as global oil prices dip and the Australian dollar rises.
Centrelink 'takeover' criticisedA reported plan for Australia Post to take over Centrelink's front office operations is slammed.
Dairy takeover worriesNick Xenophon believes a Canadian firm's bid for a Victorian dairy processor could lead to job losses.
The week aheadAMP chief economist Shane Oliver takes a look at the week ahead in business and economics.
Sugar hit
Should we treat sugar-laden food and drinks like we do alcohol and cigarettes? Kieron Rooney thinks so.
Rotten twist of fate
As a party, WikiLeaks fell short on political humility, openness and accountability, writes John Keane.
An unusual thing
In late 2000 triple j's Richard Kingsmill interviewed the legendary and influential Lou Reed.
Reversing the betrayal
Australia must reverse the betrayals it has so inflicted on the West Papuan people, writes Stu Rollo.
Convenient scapegoat
The Commission of Audit is there simply to provide cover for the Coalition, argues Mungo MacCallum.
Wild side
Lou Reed, who died in New York overnight, was one of the most influential musicians of his generation.
Childcare conundrum
Everyone agrees childcare workers need a wage increase, but who gets the bill, asks Norman Hermant.
Creeping resignation
Every US gun massacre boosts the NRA while hardly bringing gun control any closer, writes Andrew Murfett.
Virus alertScientists fear the Chikungunya virus which has infected tens of thousands in PNG, could spread to Australia. (video)
Murder chargesFormer Thai PM and his ex-deputy charged with murder in relation to deadly anti-government protests.
Election violence At least 20 people have been killed in the Philippines's pre-election violence as more than 50 million voters went to the polls to choose village leaders.
Who are the real "Fijians"?Should the term "Fijian" be used to refer to all Fijian people, or just Indigenous Fijians?
Fiji denies reports of Australian conman entering countryFiji's Department of Immigration says it has no record of Australian conman Peter Foster entering Fiji but if he is found to be in Fiji, he will be arrested.
Michael Clarke will make an early return to action for NSW in the Sheffield Shield opener against Tasmania on Wednesday.
Rock legend Reed dies, 71
Rock pioneer and Velvet Underground frontman Lou Reed has died at the age of 71.
Investigating fire resistance
Nicole Chettle
Investigators are examining homes that survived to find out what their secrets were.
Government, CFMEU gear for battle
The Abbott Government is preparing for a fight to reinstate union-despised Australian Building and Construction Commission.
Apology for dead koalas
Australia's largest woodchip exporter has been forced to publicly apologise for injuring and killing koalas.
Queensland croc crackdown
Crocodiles are being captured and moved in north Queensland in a plan that has been criticised by crocodile experts.
A Country Too Far
Twenty eight of Australia's best writers have told often personal stories about asylum seekers in A Country Too Far.
Fighting declining crime
State Governments are targeting young offenders even though youth crime rates are declining.
Axing the mining tax
The government has unveiled its laws to scrap Labor's mining tax, along with associated spending.
Getting smarter?Brain training may increase your brain's 'RAM' but it won't improve your ability to solve problems, according to a new US study.
Social isolationDespite all the communications technology at our fingertips there's still a huge proportion of people who are disconnected from their community.
Heart of the matterIs the role of cholesterol in heart disease really one of the biggest myths in the history of medicine?
Women in cabinet
Tanya Plibersek was out by 25 years when she claimed the last time there was one woman in cabinet was 1976.
Bushfire risk in NSW
Barry O'Farrell says in the past two years, his Government has increased the amount of hazard reduction two-and-a-half times.
Staff entitlements
Clive Palmer say he will ask the Prime Minister for the same level of resources as the Greens had in the last government.
Same-sex marriage laws
Can the operation of the ACT's Marriage Equality Bill be delayed to allow time for a High Court decision?
Minister joins WCB takeover debateThe Victorian Agriculture Minister thinks an Australian takeover of Warrnambool Cheese and Butter would be good for business. (audio)
Food manufacturing stabilisesAn industry report has found the Australian food and beverage manufacturing sector largely stabilised last year, after a period of decline. (audio)
Harvesting floodsThe Northern Territory Government is investigating a number of bold projects to increase Darwin's water supply. (audio)
Rare giant oarfish found
The carcass of a giant eel-like oarfish is discovered by a snorkeller off the Californian coast.
The private heiress
By Brigid Andersen
She has been described as a recluse and one-time family favourite, but who is Bianca Rinehart?
Australia knew about PRISM
By Will Ockenden
Secret documents show Australia knew about a US spying program before Edward Snowden lifted the lid.
Robot running into battle
A US engineering company showcases the WildCat, possibly the most advanced running robot so far.
When does pride in one's national identity turn into something politically and socially polarising?
An HD upgrade for one of the most beloved games in the Zelda series, The Wind Waker.
Do humans have an innate impulse to turn to the biological world to describe the unknown?
Patients admitted to emergency departments on weekends are 15 per cent more likely to die.
