The government has exempted its student loan policies from consumer protection laws. No government should ever have taken advantage of this exemption by pursuing lending practices that cause consumer detriment. Deciding to go to university, what to study and taking out a student loan is one of the most material financial decisions a young person will make in their life. Students have a right to expect that the government will act as an exemplary lender employing the highest levels of consumer care and protection. Successive governments have undermined that expectation. (Conclusion, Paragraph 62) 41