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Federal Minister calls for fairer education system for all in John Curtin speech

Friday 14 November 2025 | By Samuel Jeremic
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Federal Education Minister Jason Clare has highlighted the scale of reform needed to prepare Australia鈥檚 education system for the future workforce – and the vitally important role universities will play in achieving it – at the this week.

Commemorating 80 years since Prime Minister John Curtin鈥檚 passing, Minister Clare鈥檚 wide-ranging speech reaffirmed the enduring power of education to drive social and economic change and the ongoing need to continue making higher education accessible to more people.

Minister Clare said this wasn鈥檛 just the right thing to do; it was necessary for Australia鈥檚 future, noting 80 per cent of jobs will require a TAFE qualification or a university degree by 2050, compared to 60 per cent today.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 a big jump and we鈥檙e not going to hit that target easily. This must happen in our outer suburbs and regions and among families who haven鈥檛 traditionally seen university as an option,鈥 Minister Claire said.

鈥淚t is critical to break down the invisible barrier that still makes many Australians feel like university is somewhere else for someone else. That means reforming the whole education system so its connected and based on need.鈥


Minister Clare said John Curtin鈥檚 guiding words – that a university 鈥渟hould find its heroes in the present, its hope in the future鈥 – continue to serve as a compass for Australian education policy.

鈥淕reat universities are not just about the past, they are about the future,鈥 Minister Clare said.

鈥淭hey don鈥檛 just focus on today鈥檚 problems; they anticipate and solve the ones that lie ahead. They are not a place of privilege, but a place of opportunity for everyone.鈥

麻豆直播 Vice-Chancellor Professor Harlene Hayne said the Minister鈥檚 remarks captured the spirit of John Curtin鈥檚 enduring message – one that remains central to the University鈥檚 mission.

鈥淎t Curtin, we see the impact of education every day and how it changes the trajectory of lives, families and communities,鈥 Professor Hayne said.

鈥淓ighty years on from his passing, John Curtin鈥檚 message to 鈥榣ook ever forward鈥 remains vital as Australia plans for the workforce of tomorrow and it鈥檚 a challenge we gladly accept every day.

鈥淚 would like to thank Minister Clare for delivering this year鈥檚 JCPML Anniversary Lecture and for his thoughtful reflections on the legacy of John Curtin and the future of higher education. It was a tour-du-force of history, literature, and political inspiration鈥

Held annually, the John Curtin Anniversary Lecture commemorates the life of John Curtin, providing an opportunity for a thought leader of our time to reflect on the enduring legacy of John Curtin.

Previous presenters include former prime ministers Gough Whitlam, Paul Keating, Malcolm Fraser and Julia Gillard.

This year鈥檚 Lecture marked not only 80 years since John Curtin鈥檚 passing but also the 80th Anniversary of the end of World War II.

It was held on another momentous date 鈥 Remembrance Day 鈥 the anniversary of the Armistice that ended World War I on November 11, 1918.  This date also commemorates the 50th anniversary of the 1975 Dismissal of the Whitlam Government, another defining moment in Australia鈥檚 political history.

A transcript of the speech is available .