University strikes and the profit motive

In September 2016, John Dawkins wrote to the eight most prestigious universities in Australia and declared his 1987 reforms in the sector were outdated and in need of “major renovation”. Dawkins had been education minister in the Hawke government before becoming Paul Keating’s treasurer. His prescription was more of what he helped unlock the first time around: increased competition and efficiency, “price signals” to manipulate students into particular fields and even deregulation full stop.