The Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia made a submission to the Education and Employment Legislation Committee inquiry into the Higher Education Support Amendment (Reverse Job-Ready Graduates Fee Hikes and End 50k Arts Degrees) Bill 2025
The Academy welcomes the committee’s focus on the significant and unresolved issues arising from the Job-ready Graduates package. The evidence increasingly shows that JRG has not achieved its stated objectives and is impeding the government’s efforts to improve access and equity in higher education.
However, a simple reversal of the student fee increases introduced under JRG is not the ideal solution. While some students may pay less, it exacerbates underlying higher education funding problems and could further threaten the viability of the social sciences in the higher education system.
Our submission urges the Australian Government to commit to a clear course of action, setting out a timeline and the steps being taken to reform Job Ready Graduates and restore equity and access to higher education for all Australians. Reform should be aligned with the Australian Universities Accord recommendations and informed by the ATEC costing and pricing work.