Glenn Lazarus (Queensland, Palmer United Party) Share this | Hansard source

Education is a fundamental contributor to successful and productive societies. We know that increasing investment in education, increases the success and productivity of a nation.

Given this, why is the Abbott government so intent on cutting investment in our education sector, increasing the cost of degrees, reducing the affordability of higher education and making it more difficult for Australians to better themselves? The answer is simple: the Abbott government is so far right in its mentality and ethos that it has lost touch with everyday Australians. So, it is up to the rest of us to lead the way and represent the interests of all Australians because, clearly, the Abbott government has no intention of doing this.

Australia enjoys a high standard of living compared to many countries. We, our fathers and our forefathers have worked hard to put us in this very lucky position. But maintaining this position is going to require smarts—clever thinking—and an understanding that our future rests with our capability to lead, create and innovate.

We cannot compete on time and wages. Asian nations offer cheaper labour and lower levels of compliance, which means they can produce things far more cheaply. But, as we all know, cheaper is not better, and therein lies our opportunity. To be better, we need to invest in our country, our people, our industries and our education system. To be better, we need to be smarter. Being smarter means we will achieve more in the form of advancements across a broad range of industries, including technological advancements that deliver world-first inventions and scientific breakthroughs. Being smarter means we will augment our capacity to innovate and constantly improve all aspects of our economy. Being smarter means we will enhance and grow our skill levels and achieve unmatched levels of competency in new and emerging industries, as well as re-engineer existing industries.

We know that the world is prepared to pay and pay good money for cutting edge solutions and scientific breakthroughs. This is the playing field on which we should be seeking to compete. Increasing our country's investment in education will propel us towards these goals. Reducing investment will only pull us backwards—backwards towards the dark ages. We will become the dumb country.

Australia is already considered a leading provider of quality education. The Australian government's own benchmark report of 2015 confirms Australia is still one of the top destinations for international students, stating that Australia sits at No. 4. Australia generates significant revenue from our education sector as an export industry. Several of our universities make the rankings lists of top 100 universities in the world. Australia currently enjoys the highest secondary education enrolment rate in the world. We are sixth in the world for the percentage of people enrolling in tertiary education.

If we know we need to improve our investment in education to further our prospects as a nation in order to secure our future, why would any caring, sensible, responsible and forward-looking government want to cut investment in our higher education sector and push it beyond the reach of the people? The answer is simple: the Abbott government are not sensible, they are not responsible, they are not forward looking and they just do not care.