A research fellow has described the federal government’s Job-ready Graduates package as the worst policy since the introduction of the cane toad, at the launch of an economics report.
A research fellow has described the federal government’s Job-ready Graduates package as the worst policy since the introduction of the cane toad, at the launch of an economics report.
Speaking at the launch of the Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre Youth in Focus report at Perth Convention Centre today, BCEC principal research fellow and co-author Mike Dockery slammed the rising costs of education and student debts.
The report, which surveyed young Australians between the age of 14 and 25, found a growing distrust of politic institutions and rising concerns on financial pressures in that demographic.
In the report and at the launch, Dr Dockery said the Job-ready Graduates package was flawed and created a generational divide.
The Job-ready Graduates package determines the course fees based on predicted workforce demand.
“There's a justifiable sense of intergenerational inequity stacked in favour of those who benefited from free education and much cheaper housing,” Dr Dockery said at the launch.
“In my view, the Job-Ready Graduates package is possibly the worst piece of public policy since 1935 when the government entomologists decided to introduce the cane toad into Australia.
“There's a federal election coming and it looks like it will be close. Young people's vote could easily determine the outcome.
“I urge you to make this an election issue. Demand a pledge from both major parties for a fairer deal on course fees and the repayment of student debts.”
In the BCEC report, the authors claimed the Job-ready Graduates package picked winners and losers based on misplaced assumptions about what types of jobs and courses are more likely to deliver successful employment outcomes.
“Our analysis shows that these assumptions are not justified, and that there is no meaningful link between future workforce demands and course fees,” the report reads.
The package had received some criticism, including the requirement for students to maintain a pass rate of 50 per cent of their units to be eligible.
In August, Education Minister Jason Clare announced the controversial 50 per cent pass rule has been scrapped.
