Footnotes

Chapter 1

[1]        Journals of the Senate No. 36—25 June 2014, pp 1000-1001.

[2]        Final distributional analysis for 2014-15 Budget, at www.treasury.gov.au/Access-to-Information/DisclosureLog/2014/1510 (accessed 17 November 2014).

[3]        Tom, Allard and Peter Martin, 'Budget cuts hit lowest-income earners hardest, says Treasury', Sydney Morning Herald, 3 August 2014, p. 4.

[4]        Professor Emeritus Frank Stilwell, Submission 3, pp 1-2.

Chapter 2 - Government changes to Newstart

[1]        Newstart Allowance is: Financial assistance while an individual seeks employment. Eligibility: aged 22 years or more but under Age Pension age; looking for paid work; prepared to meet the activity test while looking for work; and meet an income and assets test. Fortnightly payments currently range from $515.60 for a single to $720.30 for a single principle carer granted activity test exemption. See www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/services/centrelink/newstart-allowance (accessed 27 November 2014)

[2]        Youth Allowance is: Financial help for people aged 16 to 24 years who are studying full-time, undertaking a full-time Australian Apprenticeship, training, looking for work or sick. Eligibility: 16 to 21 years old and looking for full time work or undertaking approved activities; 18 to 24 years old and studying full time; 16 or 17 years old and have completed year 12 or equivalent, or undertaking full time secondary study and need to live away from home in order to study, or are considered independent for Youth Allowance; or 16 to 24 years old and undertaking a full-time Australian Apprenticeship. Fortnightly payments range from $226.80 for a single under 18 living at home to $720.30 for a single job seeker principle carer granted an activity test exemption. See www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/services/centrelink/youth-allowance (accessed 27 November 2014)

[3]        Budget 2014-15: Budget Paper No. 2: Expense Measures, p. 203.

[4]        Budget 2014-15: Budget Paper No. 2: Expense Measures, p. 203.

[5]        Budget 2014-15: Budget Paper No. 2: Expense Measures, p. 210.

[6]        Budget Fact Sheet : Working Age Payments, available from www.dss.gov.au/about-the-department/publications-articles/corporate-publications/budget-and-additional-estimates-statements/2014-15-budget/budget-fact-sheet-working-age-payments (accessed 10 November 2014)

[7]        These assessments are categorised as Stream 3 (relatively significant barriers) or Stream 4 (severe barriers) by DES and JSA providers. See Department of Employment, 'Job Services Australia eligibility and how to register' at https://employment.gov.au/job-services-australia-eligibility-and-how-register (accessed 17 November 2014).

[8]        Budget 2014-15: Budget Paper No. 2: Expense Measures, p. 210.

[9]        Submission 44, p. 10.

[10]      Committee Hansard, 16 October 2014, p. 44.

[11]      Submission 44, p. 10.

[12]      Submission 7, pp 3-4.

[13]      Submission 44, p. 10.

[14]      Submission 7, p. 3.

[15]      Committee Hansard, 16 October 2014, p. 49.

[16]      Committee Hansard, 16 October 2014, p. 59. See ABS, 6202.0 – Labour Force, Australia, October 2013; ABS, 6105.0, Australian labour market statistics, July 2014; and ABS, 6354.0, Job Vacancies, August 2014 which show an unemployment rate at 6.2 per cent and youth unemployment at 13.1 per cent in Sept 2013. In Sept 2014 around 745, 500 Australians were looking for work in a period when only 137, 122 jobs were advertised.

[17]      Submission 44, p. 10.

[18]      Committee Hansard, 16 October 2014, p. 67.

[19]      Committee Hansard, 16 October 2014, p. 59.

[20]      Committee Hansard, 16 October 2014, p. 44.

[21]      Submission 44, p. 10.

[22]      Committee Hansard, 16 October 2014, p. 14.

[23]      Committee Hansard, 16 October 2014, p. 14.

[24]      Committee Hansard, 16 October 2014, p. 43.

[25]      2014-15 Budget, Budget strategy and outlook: Budget paper no. 1: 2014-15, pp 2–3.

Chapter 3 - The Abbott Government's cuts to funding for Youth Connections and Reclink Australia

[1]        Submission 7, p. 1.

[2]        Submission 7, p. 1.

[3]        Ms Shyanne Watson, Coordinator, Youth and Educational Support Services Canberra, Youth Connections Anglicare, Committee Hansard, 16 October 2014, p. 10, p.12.

[4]        Ms Jennifer Kitchin, Director, Community Services ACT, Youth Connections Anglicare, Committee Hansard, 16 October 2014, p. 10; Youth Connections is funded through the Commonwealth Department of Education, see Youth Connections, Submission 7, p. 1.

[5]        Youth Connections, Submission 7, p. 1.

[6]        Committee Hansard, 16 October 2014, p. 10

[7]        Committee Hansard, 16 October 2014, p. 2.

[8]        Committee Hansard, 16 October 2014, p. 44.

[9]        Committee Hansard, 16 October 2014, p. 10

[10]      Senator the Hon Eric Abetz, Minister for Employment and the Hon Luke Hartsuyker MP, Assistant Minister for Employment, Joint press release 'New Employment Services model to drive stronger job outcomes' 28 July 2014.

[11]      Committee Hansard, 16 October 2014, p. 12.

[12]      Committee Hansard, 16 October 2014, p. 12.

[13]      Jobs Australia, Jobs Australia Policy on Youth Transitions, January 2014, p. 3.

[14]      Committee Hansard, 16 October 2014, p. 35.

[15]      Victorian Council of Social Services, 'Federal plans for unemployed unlikely to help', Media Release, 7 October 2014.

[16]      Submission 50, p. 3.

[17]      Committee Hansard, 25 November 2014, p. 2.

[18]      Committee Hansard, 25 November 2014, p. 2.

[19]      Committee Hansard, 25 November 2014, p. 6.

[20]      Committee Hansard, 25 November 2014, p. 6.

[21]      Parliamentary Library, Budget Review 2008–09, p. 125.

[22]      Committee Hansard, 25 November 2014, p. 1.

[23]      Committee Hansard, 25 November 2014, p. 5.

[24]      Committee Hansard, 25 November 2014, p. 2.

[25]      Committee Hansard, 16 October 2014, p. 6.

[26]      Centre for Sport and Social Impact, La Trobe University, Impact of Reclink Australia Programs on Participants, National Report (February 2014). This was provided to the committee as part of Reclink's submission, see Submission 50, Attachment 2.

[27]      Committee Hansard, 16 October 2014, p. 2.

[28]      Committee Hansard, 16 October 2014, p. 48.

[29]      Senate Select Committee into the Abbott Government's Commission of Audit, Committee Hansard, 13 March 2014, p. 54. Note: the yearly payment for Newstart for a single with no dependents is around $13,405, although this does not include rent assistance, about $3,320 a year at its maximum rate. See Newstart and Rent Assistance rates at www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/services/centrelink/ (accessed 17 November 2014).

[30]      Committee Hansard, 16 October 2014, p. 12. Note: the yearly payments for Youth Allowance single, with no children, and living at a parental home are about $5,896. See Youth Allowance rates at www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/services/centrelink/ (accessed 17 November 2014).

[31]      Committee Hansard, 16 October 2014, p. 12.

[32]      Committee Hansard, 25 November 2014, p. 5.

[33]      Mission Australia, Youth Survey 2014, released 1 December 2014, p. 5.

[34]      Committee Hansard, 16 October 2014, p. 2.

[35]      Two pilot schemes will be established: Youth Employment Pathways will assist disengaged youth back into school, vocational education or the workforce. Starting 1 March 2015 it will assist people aged 15 to 18 and 3,000 places will be available. Training for Employment Scholarships will assist employers in regional areas access job specific training for new starters. Starting 1 March 2015, small to medium businesses who hire an employed person aged 18 to 24 will be eligible to receive funding to pay for up to 26 weeks of training. 7,500 scholarships will be available. See www.vetreform.industry.gov.au/files/ISF%20Youth%20Streams.pdf (accessed 1 December 2014).

Chapter 4 - The Abbott Government's cuts to education

[1]        National Tertiary Education Union research, cited in Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee, Report on the Higher Education and Research Reform Amendment Bill 2014 [Provisions] (October 2014), p. 76.

[2]        Committee Hansard, 16 October 2014, p. 21.

[3]        Committee Hansard, 16 October 2014, p. 50.

[4]        The University of Western Australia confirmed it will charge $48,000 for a three year undergraduate degree which is up to triple the current fee. See Senator the Hon Kim Carr, 'Major university confirms $100,000 degrees on the way', Media release, 23 September 2014.

[5]        Committee Hansard, 16 October 2014, p. 18.

[6]        Committee Hansard, 16 October 2014, p. 51.

[7]        Committee Hansard, 16 October 2014, p. 33.

[8]        Committee Hansard, 16 October 2014, p. 18.

[9]        Committee Hansard, 16 October 2014, p. 38.

[10]      Committee Hansard, 16 October 2014, p. 17.

[11]      Committee Hansard, 16 October 2014, p. 52.

[12]      Committee Hansard, 16 October 2014, p. 18.

[13]      Committee Hansard, 16 October 2014, p. 40.

[14]      Budget 2014-15: Budget Paper No. 2: Expense Measures, p. 77.

[15]      Budget 2014-15: Budget Paper No. 2: Expense Measures, p. 77.

[16]      Committee Hansard, 16 October 2014, p. 67.

[17]      Ms Deanna Taylor, National President, National Union of Students, Committee Hansard, 16 October 2014, p. 49; Ms Jenny Lambert, ACCI, Committee Hansard, 16 October 2014, p. 66; Mr Paul Kniest, NTEU, Committee Hansard, 16 October 2014, p. 17.

[18]      Committee Hansard, 16 October 2014, p. 33.

[19]      Carol Ey, 'Support for skills training' in Budget Review 2014–15 (May 2014), available at www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/BudgetReview201415 (accessed 20 November 2014).

[20]      Trade Support Loans are paid in instalments totalling up to $20,000 over four years. See www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au/trade-support-loans (accessed 1 December 2014)

[21]      Committee Hansard, 16 October 2014, p. 60.

[22]      ACTU, Submission 18, pp 26-27; Ms Sobski, WAVE, Committee Hansard, 16 October 2014, p. 27; Mr Gavrielatos, AEU, Committee Hansard, 16 October 2014, p. 31.

[23]      Committee Hansard, 16 October 2014, p. 59.

[24]      Committee Hansard, 16 October 2014, p. 31. The Parliamentary Library paper referred to is Ms Carol Ey, 'Support for Skills training' in Budget review 2014-15 (May 2014).

[25]      Committee Hansard, 16 October 2014, p. 18.

[26]      Committee Hansard, 16 October 2014, p. 61-62.

[27]      Australian Government, Budget 2014–15: overview, p. 7.

[28]      Committee Hansard, 16 October 2014, p. 31.

[29]      Budget 2014-15: Budget Paper No. 2: Expense Measures, p. 91; 'Christopher Pyne says budget concerns 'entirely a matter for the States'', 7.30 transcript 15 May 2014, available at www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2014/s4004718.htm (accessed 18 November 2014).

[30]      Committee Hansard, 16 October 2014, p. 46.

[31]      Committee Hansard, 16 October 2014, p. 32.

[32]      Committee Hansard, 16 October 2014, p. 32.

[33]      ABC online, 'Tony Abbott promises no cuts to education, health and other areas on the eve of the 2013 federal election'  available at www.abc.net.au/news/2014-05-07/abbott-promises-no-cuts-to-education-health/5436224 (accessed 19 November 2014).

[34]      For further detail on the relevant legislation please see the Labor senators' dissenting report for the Higher Education and Research Reform Amendment Bill 2014, Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee, tabled 28 October 2014, pp 67- 101. See also the Australian Greens dissenting report, pp 103-109.

[35]      HECS was the higher education loans program until 2005, when it was replaced by the HELP program – though many people still use the older terminology to refer to the current scheme. See Dr Coral Dow and Carol Ey, 'Higher Education Loan Program (HELP): a quick guide' at www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp1415/Quick_Guides/HELP (accessed 4 December 2014).

[36]      The Hon Christopher Pyne, Minister for Education, 'Government accepts crossbench amendments to higher education reforms', Media release, 1 December 2014; see also the
Mid-Year Financial and Economic Outlook (MYEFO) (December 2014).

[37]      For further information please see the report of the Senate Select Committee into School Funding, tabled 9 July 2014.

[38]      OECD, Australia - Economic forecast summary (November 2014) at www.oecd.org/eco/outlook/australia-economic-forecast-summary.htm (accessed 26 November 2014).

Government Senators' dissenting report

[1]        2013-14 Final Budget Outcome, 25 September 2014 available at www.joehockey.com/media/media-releases/details.aspx?r=422 (accessed 17 November 2014).

[2]        Henry Ergas, ' The budget crisis is real, it’s serious, and we ignore it at our children’s peril', The Australian (12 July 2014) at www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/columnists/the-budget-crisis-is-real-its-serious-and-we-ignore-it-at-our-childrens-peril/story-fn7078da-1226986129892 (accessed 1 December 2014).

[3]        IM, IMF Country Report, Australia (February 2014) at www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/scr/2014/cr1451.pdf (accessed 1 December 2014).

[4]        OECD, Economic Outlook (November 2014), p. 81 at www.oecd.org/eco/economicoutlook.htm (accessed 9 December 2014).

[5]        PBO, The sensitivity of budget projections to changes in economic parameters: Estimates from 2014–15 to 2024–25 (November 2014), p. ix.

[6]        Emily Stewart, 'OECD boss praises Australian budget for gradual return to surplus', ABC Online (11 June 2014) at www.abc.net.au/news/2014-06-10/oecd-boss-praises-australian-budget-for-gradual-return-to-surpl/5512418

[7]        Dr Martin Parkinson, 'Challenges and opportunities for Australia over the next decade', Speech to the Association of Mining and Exploration Companies Convention (2 July 2014) at www.treasury.gov.au/PublicationsAndMedia/Speeches/2014/Challenges-and-opportunities-for-Australia-over-the-next-decade (accessed 1 July 2014).

[8]        Commonwealth Budget 2014-15: Budget Overview, p. 8.

[9]        Australian Apprenticeships, 'Trade Support Loans' at www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au/trade-support-loans (accessed 3 December 2014).

[10]      See http://www.business.gov.au/grants-and-assistance/Industry-Skills-Fund/Pages/ISF-Factsheet.aspx (accessed 29 January 2015). See also the Hon Ian Macfarlane MP, Minister for Industry and Science, 'Skilling Australia to grow industry', Media Release, 13 May 2014.

[11]      Department of Industry, 'Industry Skills Fund – youth streams' at www.vetreform.industry.gov.au/files/ISF%20Youth%20Streams.pdf (accessed 3 December 2014).

[12]      The Hon Luke Hartsuyker MP, Assistant Minister for Employment, ' Work for the Dole Coordinators' Media Release, 19 August 2014 at https://ministers.employment.gov.au/hartsuyker/work-dole-coordinators (accessed 9 December 2014).

[13]      The Hon Christopher Pyne MP, Minister for Education, UWA shows reforms a boost for regional students', Media Release 2 December 2014 at https://ministers.education.gov.au/pyne/uwa-shows-reforms-boost-regional-students (accessed 9 December 2014).

[14]      Universities Australia, 'Senate: approve higher education package with amendments' Media Release (28 August 2014) at www.universitiesaustralia.edu.au/news/media-releases/Senate--approve-higher-education-package-with-amendments#.VH59g00cRaQ (accessed 3 December 2014).

[15]      Mr Mike Gallagher, 'Address to the EduTECH Higher Education Leaders Congress, Brisbane, 4 June 2014' at https://go8.edu.au/sites/default/files/docs/article/edutech_presentation_-_4_june_2014-pdf_version.pdf (accessed 3 December 2014).

[16]      Kylar Loussikian & Rosie Lewis, ‘Dawkins backs uni reforms’, The Australian, 28 January 2015 (p. 1)

[17]      ‘Dawkins blasts reform impasse’, The Australian (editorial), 29 January 2015 (p. 10)

[18]      Vicki Thomson, ‘Free education never existed’, The Australian, 29 January 2015 (p. 10)

[19]      The Hon Christopher Pyne MP, Minister for Education, 'Government will move amendments to the Higher Education Bill', Media Release 2 December 2014 at https://ministers.education.gov.au/pyne/Government-will-move-amendments-higher-education-bill (accessed 9 December 2014).