Good morning #auspol

I thought I’d have a squizz at the University qualifications of federal MPs/Senators to see how many went to Uni and how many did a BA or Humanities degree

Just for shits & giggles to see how many got to choose what they wanted to do at Uni



#insiders

I also wanted to dispel the myth that a BA doesn't help you get a job.

(spoiler alert of my results here)

If a BA doesn't help you get a job, why did more than two-thirds of gainfully-employed federal politicians do a BA then?

#auspol #insiders

I’ve done a breakdown so everyone can see the facts

My spreadsheet is colour-coded to indicate political party & any BA/Humanities degrees are highlighted in Yellow/Light Orange

Source: https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members unless marked with an * (*source: Wiki, other)

#auspol #insiders

The House of Representatives

151 Seats

1 vacant – Eden-Monaro (by-election July 4,2020)

150 – MPs currently sitting

77 Coalition
67 Labor
1 Green
1 KAP
3 Independent
1 Centre Alliance


#auspol #insiders

119 federal MPs out of 150 went to University, 31 did not go to Uni

(Note: *this is not a complete list of MP’s qualifications, just their Uni quals bcuz we’re talking about Uni fees here)


#auspol #insiders

103 MPs out of 151 did a BA and/or Humanities degree – under Morrison’s plan their education would’ve been more expensive.

16 did a science/teaching/nursing/other degree that would be the same price or cheaper under Morrison’s new plan


#auspol #insiders

The Senate

76 Seats

1 vacant – Richard di Natale to be replaced by Lidia Thorpe

75 Senators currently sitting

37 Coalition
25 Labor
8 Green
2 PHON
1 JLN
2 CA

59/76 - Senators went to Uni
16/76 – Senators did not go to Uni
1/76 - vacant

#auspol #insiders

(Note: *this is not a complete list of Senator’s qualifications, just their Uni quals bcuz we’re talking about Uni fees here)

50 Senators out of 76 did a BA and/or a Humanities degree – under Morrison’s plan their education would’ve been more expensive.


#auspol #insiders

9 did a science/teaching/nursing/other degree that would be the same price or cheaper under Morrison’s new plan

Total number of federal seats in House of Reps & Senate 227

178/227 – MPs/Sens went to Uni
47/227 – MPs/Sens did not go to Uni
2/227 – vacant


#auspol #insiders

153/227 - MPs/Senators did a BA or Humanities degree


#auspol #insiders

Personally, I think it's a bit rich for the Morrison Govt to be making the courses the majority of them had the choice to do more expensive & difficult to do for our young ones.

All students should be treated equally & be allowed to follow their passion

#auspol #insiders

Oops, forgot to add... I also used this Guardian article as a source (i.e. to work out which courses will cost more under Morrison's new plan)

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jun/19/australian-university-fees-arts-stem-science-maths-nursing-teaching-humanities