Govt confirms university governance review as more job cut threats come from UniSQ, CQU, UTS

A review of how universities are governed is to start in December after it has been revealed up to six institutions so far plan to cut staff to handle budget deficits. As reported in Campus Review on Monday, James Cook University, ANU and Canberra Uni are also facing job cuts. Union members representing the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) and Central Queensland University (CQU) have said the universities have flagged job cuts to come, but have yet to hand over specifics. National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) UniSQ branch president Professor Andrea Lamont-Mills told Campus Review the uni is planning to recoup a $32m hole in its budget with academic redundancies. Professor Lamont-Mills, who is also the dean of research at the institution, also said UniSQ is refusing to give staff specifics. "Management are not revealing that number despite our repeated requests to do so," she told Campus Review. Professor Andrea Lamont-Mills. Picture: NCA Newswire "They know a ballpark figure, because they are releasing major change proposals that have identified positions that are 'surplus to requirements', but they won't give us an overall figure. "It could be 50, it could be 400, or somewhere in between. Our members don't know, and that's incredibly distressing." The union said it estimates 60 jobs have been lost already, which will have major consequences on the regional uni's workforce. Professor Lamont-Mills also said that, in the last month, there has also been a discovery of superannuation underpayments stemming back to 2019, which management has yet to send a university-wide email about, although it has contacted the individual staff affected. A UniSQ spokesperson told Campus Review that fewer students means fewer staff, and that they are continuing to work with staff before any decisions are signed off on. "Financial pressures, primarily driven by rising costs and government policies – including restrictions on international student numbers – are affecting the higher education sector," they said. UniSQ vice-chancellor Geraldine Mackenzie. Picture: NCA Newswire/Kevin Farmer "UniSQ is reviewing operations and will update staff as part of the consultation process and as decisions are made in the coming weeks. Decisions have not been made on specific staff numbers. "UniSQ identified instances of superannuation underpayments and quickly rectified the issue with remediation payments this year. The issue will not affect staffing decisions." Union representative for CQU Bruce Young, an IT engineer who also sits on the university council, said there are only about six positions that are at risk of being removed at this time. He said the university, which is still drafting its financial plans, has been proactive and responsive in working with staff through the restructure. Executive director of people and culture at the uni, Barbara Miller, said that overall, the institution expects its total number of staff will grow this year. "[We are] currently in the process of undergoing a strategic internal reconfiguration of the Student Success Division and Education, Strategy and Innovation unit, to ensure that we are providing the best support for students now and into the future," she told Campus Review. "The reconfiguration is currently undergoing a consultation process. Overall, it is expected that the University will grow staffing numbers in 2024." Mr Young expressed frustration that so far, only one vice-chancellor has said they will take a pay cut amid the financial hardship in the sector. University of Technology Sydney (UTS) academics were sent an all-staff email on Tuesday afternoon with an invitation to attend a university-wide town hall next Wednesday. The email stated the university needs to find $100m in savings over the next year, which will be achieved through redundancies and a lower operational spend. Chancellor of Australian National University Julie Bishop also came under fire on Tuesday after she said many members of her university's staff have been "part of the inefficiencies that the university is now seeking to address.” The institution last week announced it's facing a projected $200m deficit this year and has been forced to cut jobs and salaries and reign in procurement, facilities, travel and IT. All staff will be made to let go of a promised pay rise, and its vice-chancellor will also take a pay cut. On Tuesday, the union called on Ms Bishop, also a former foreign minister for the Coalition, to resign after she supported the university's plan, which also includes cutting up to 650 jobs. “The university has been in operating deficit for several years and we are working to reduce our costs by $250m and return to financial sustainability,’’ she told The Australian. “Unfortunately this will include $100m in salary savings.’’ Education Minister Jason Clare has said his Expert Governance Council, a Universities Accord-response idea expressed at an education minister's meeting in April, will begin investigating university leadership in December. Details about who will sit on the council are yet to be released. Ten 'university governance principles and recommendations' are to replace the current voluntary governance code some universities subscribe to. The principles will require universities to publish how they develop policies about management and vice-chancellor pay, that will need to be comparable to the scale and complexity of public sector entities. Related stories: “Not even more students would fix this”: Three unis cut staff, pay to face money challenges | “Big business infecting unis”: 68 per cent of execs appointed, not elected | WSU leader takes a pay cut, among other changes to uni leadership style Governing bodies will also need to have at least one non-executive member who has university leadership experience from outside the institution, and one or more student members on the body, among other measures. NTEU federal president Alison Barnes said the issue of university governance needs a parliamentary inquiry, not council oversight. “Bashing workers might have helped Ms Bishop climb through ranks of the Liberal Party but an attack like this makes her role as chancellor completely untenable," she said. “If Julie Bishop won’t resign today, she must be sacked. At a time when 600 jobs are on the line, blaming staff is reprehensible. “This is emblematic of a broken governance system that needs an urgent federal parliamentary inquiry.” This story has been updated to include comments from Barbara Miller from Central Queensland University. Read more: Anti-abortion speech sparks mass walkout at ACU graduation ceremony | HEDx Podcast: How a million more students can access tertiary ed – Episode 141