Australia’s global performance: falling behind

Education, skills and infrastructure are key to our future economic prosperity. Yet we are falling behind on every measure.

National fixed broadband speeds are amongst the lowest in the developed world with Australia ranked 61^st globally.

Australian children's educational outcomes have slipped in both national and international terms. Science and maths skills of 15 year old Australians have suffered the most since 2013. Australia slipped from 8th to 13th position in science and from 17th to 24th in mathematics outcomes.

Investment in education is critical to both the life fulfilment of individuals and Australia's future international competitiveness. Yet Australia's falling education outcomes have been accompanied by a fall in education spending as a proportion of GDP.

Just two things are rising in education under the Liberals: fees and student debt. University fees have gone up rapidly and are amongst the highest now globally. According to a comparison of OECD data, the average annual borrowing by Australian students in tertiary programs rose by a whopping 36.7% between 2013 and 2018.

Less visible is the corrosive impact of Scott Morrison's governing style on our democracy. But it's clear Australia is more corrupt under the Coalition Government.

Transparency International Australia's annual independent assessments confirm that Australia is becoming more corrupt. Australians' trust in public administration has slipped when compared to a decade ago.

In 2012, Australia ranked 7th on the Corruption Perception Index. Yet by 2020, under Scott Morrison, Australia had become more corrupt, slipping to 11th position.

Australia can and must do better. We have never pretended we were perfect but when we faced major challenges – from bushfires to wars, from social change to building great institutions – our governments and communities have worked together to strive to build a better future for all Australians.

But after seven years of Liberal National Party Government we are going backwards and slipping behind countries which once envied us and looked on us as an example of a healthy, innovative democracy.

As Australia hurtles toward $1 trillion of Liberal debt, and a possible Federal election this year, Australians have a right – indeed a responsibility as citizens – to question how well our country is actually doing.

The coming election is a choice about our future. On any objective measure Australia has gone backwards after 8 long years of Liberal National Government.

Australians deserves a Government that acts in their interests, a government that's on their side.