University graduate unemployment on the rise while Pyne busies himself with with memoirs and broken ideology

Of course universities want their graduates to be successful and employable. What university wouldn't want to give their students the competitive edge when it came to post-university job hunting? It is in our universities' and national interest to ensure the currency of a graduates' degree translates into job opportunities, not the unemployment queue.

So why hasn't the government been doing more to implement Work Integrated Learning into Australia's university system?

Christopher Pyne has been caught asleep at the wheel when it comes to improving employment outcomes for our university graduates.

Many universities across Australia already have an internal Work Integrated Learning program, though most make mention of a lack of designated resources and coherent national strategy.

Both university and industry peak bodies earlier this year announced a National Work Integrated Learning Strategy, an "aspirational and practical" document that serves as a thorough blueprint as to how industry specific work placements can be implemented and improved across our universities.

Government has an important role to play in spreading the benefits of Work Integrated Learning across our university system.

Centralising and standardising Work Integrated Learning through the Department of Education as a gateway for universities and employers is just one way government can demonstrate their leadership and commitment to improved graduate employment outcomes.

Tapping our largest national employer, the Australian Public Service, as a key player in the implementation of a national Work Integrated Learning strategy is yet another.

Christopher Pyne should be busy hosting roundtables between universities, industry and employers in coordinating and developing a sensible industry specific work placement agenda, helping build university to industry relations and developing a coherent national work placement framework.

Australia's Chief Scientist Dr Ian Chubb, leading peak bodies, industry and universities all agree that industry specific work placements are the key to unlocking improved quality in existing placements, and greater access to placements for students in non-traditional fields of study.

Now is the time the Abbott Government must put aside their failed ideology of university deregulation and actually start consulting with and investing in Australia's universities.

This week's Budget looms as a test for Tony Abbott and Joe Hockey; a test of ideas and a test of character.

Without a government prepared to take meaningful action our university graduate employability is destined to fall even further, while national unemployment will continue to rise.