Labour MPs in Australia are urging the government to prioritise reforms to the Job-Ready Graduates scheme, which they argue has failed to deliver on its promises. The initiative, designed to align university courses with workforce demands, has been criticised for increasing student debt while providing little benefit to graduates.
Growing Criticism
Several backbenchers have voiced concerns that the scheme disproportionately burdens students with higher fees for degrees in humanities and arts, while STEM subjects receive subsidies. "The current system is broken," one MP stated. "We need a fairer model that doesn’t penalise students for pursuing their passions."
Proposed Reforms
Key suggestions include:
- Reducing fees for arts and humanities courses
- Expanding funding for vocational training
- Improving transparency in graduate employment outcomes
The government has yet to confirm whether it will act on these recommendations, but pressure is mounting as student dissatisfaction grows.
