Australia: Youth and University Deregulation
Australia joined the Open Government PartnershipThe Open Government Partnership (OGP) is a multi-stakeholder initiative focused on improving government transparency, ensuring opportunities for citizen participation in public matters, and strengthen... More in the middle of last year. Its inclusionOGP participating governments are working to create governments that truly serve all people. Commitments in this area may address persons with disabilities, women and girls, lesbian, gay, bisexual, tr... More to the partnership is an important addition. Not only does Australia have one of the most robust democratic institutions according to The Economist, it also ranks very highly in the World TransparencyAccording to OGP’s Articles of Governance, transparency occurs when “government-held information (including on activities and decisions) is open, comprehensive, timely, freely available to the pub... More Index and has one of the world’s highest standard of livings. However, the Abbott Government’s recent announcement of its national budget has raised some eyebrows. One of the most surprising cuts was made to higher educationAccountability within the public education system is key to improving outcomes and attainment, and accountability is nearly impossible without transparent policies and opportunities for participation .... There are now discussions over whether the government will be providing universities with the autonomy to decide its own course fees by 2016. Of course, this was not taken lightly by university students. There are genuine fears across the country that this deregulation of university fees could significantly raise the costs of university programs.
What’s interesting about the recent cuts to higher education is that of all major stakeholders that were consulted by the Abbott government, students were interestingly left out. While Australia has had a long history of encouraging youthRecognizing that investing in youth means investing in a better future, OGP participating governments are creating meaningful opportunities for youth to participate in government processes. Technical ... More forums and discussions, like many countries around the world, it continues to leave out youths from having a voice in the decision-making process.
The decision to leave youths out of discussions over the deregulation of university fees have resulted in some unwanted security risks for government officials. Planned visits by Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Education Minister Christopher Pyne to Deakin University last month had to be cancelled due to large student protests. Foreign Minister Julie Bishop was angrily heckled by students during a visit to the University of Sydney.
Large protests are unavoidable by-products of decisions and policies that lacked the participation of major stakeholders. The protests that have engulfed universities across Australia over considerations to deregulate university fees are understandable and unavoidable, as youths were not properly consulted and treated as a major stakeholder by the Australian government. This is a sensitive issue, and to leave out youths as a major stakeholder is a form of marginalization.
The Australian government, and any government for that matter, must consult and involve young people in the formation of policies that affect youths and the community at large. At the end of the day, we must all realize that youths are ultimately the world’s biggest stakeholders. The decisions of policymakers in the present will not only impacts youths today, but our lives in the future. Policymakers globally must recognize youths as major stakeholders in all things relevant. The Open Government Partnership must act as a body that advocates the inclusion of youths in the decision-making process. Only this way can a government be truly inclusive.
Image credit: Sydney Opera House via WikiMedia Commons
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