On 18/06/2019, Sky News host Paul Murray highlighted the alarming failure rate in Australian universities, stating they have become a "multi-billion-dollar factory" with increasing dropout rates. The Productivity Commission reported that 21% of students either fail or drop out, and HECS debt has soared from $19 billion to $62 billion since placement caps were lifted by the Gillard government. Murray criticized universities for lowering entry standards, leading to a significant financial waste as 65% of students did not meet the original entry marks.
