Union calls on parties to back review of UC governance after election

The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) is calling on all parties and candidates in the upcoming ACT election to commit to a comprehensive and transparent review of governance at the University of Canberra in the wake of former Vice-Chancellor Paddy Nixon’s sudden departure in January.

The union’s request highlights its concerns about UC governance issues and their impacts on staff and students.

It lists the nation-high $1.8 million remuneration provided to Professor Nixon in 2023, course and unit closures across the university, and a $10.4 million budget blowout, fed mainly by higher spending of $9.5 million on consultants, about a 130 per cent increase.

The University of Canberra is governed under the University of Canberra Act 1989 (ACT) and is the only university for which the ACT Legislative Assembly has responsibility.

NTEU ACT Division Secretary Dr Lachlan Clohesy said the current senior executive seemed unable or unwilling to deal with the growing number of governance issues at the university.

“As the University of Canberra is a public institution, the public is entitled to transparency and accountability in relation to how the university operates and how public funds are spent,” he said.

“It is not good enough to refuse to elaborate on a 71 per cent pay rise for the former Vice-Chancellor. Professor Nixon’s $1.8 million remuneration package in 2023 was the highest of any Australian Vice-Chancellor at any Australian university, ever.”

Dr Clohesy said poor governance exposed the university to financial pressure, which in turn meant poorer job security as fixed-term and casual contracts were not renewed, with continuing staff fearing for their jobs.

He said staff experienced workload pressure as people tried to do more with less.

“Students lose the diversity of study choices they might otherwise have had as courses and units are cut,” Dr Clohessy said.

“Their class sizes get bigger, which has impacts on the student experience as students may struggle to get the levels of attention, consultation, feedback, and assessment commentary they need to succeed in their study.”

Dr Clohesy said a government review was needed to ensure the future of a university for Canberrans.

He said such a review could call the University Executive in to answer questions on the annual report and financial management, as well as recommend possible legislative changes.

“There appears to be mismanagement of the budget to the extent that they’re in a pretty dire financial situation, and that’s having an effect in terms of course cuts, unit closures, that sort of thing,” Dr Clohesy said.

The Council-approved budget deficit was already $26 million, and that blew out to $36.4 million.

Dr Clohesy said spending on consultants, some apparently to advise the university on how to manage the institution, and the $700,000 plus pay rise for the Vice-Chancellor, were behind the budget blowout.

He said the departure of Professor Nixon remained a mystery, but the union had lodged a raft of Freedom of Information requests in an attempt to get to the bottom of it.

Last week union officials met with incoming Vice-Chancellor Bill Shorten, who indicated the priority needed to be stabilising the budget situation.

“He’s got ideas of what he wants to do with UC,” Dr Clohesy said.

“We had a pretty positive impression coming out of that meeting.”

Chief Minister Andrew Barr said he had an open mind on ways to improve the university’s governance, but it would need to fit in with federal Education Minister Jason Clare’s current national reform process through the Universities Accord.

“Universities as public institutions have a responsibility to govern themselves well and to provide high-quality education to students; that’s the purpose of the institutions,” he said.

“So we’re very happy to look at the University of Canberra’s governance in the context of the national reforms, and if there are any further changes that are needed to the Universities Governance Act, then that is a matter for the Assembly in the next term.”

Opposition Leader Elizabeth Lee said the Canberra Liberals would always support good governance and be open to ways to improve it.

“Good governance is essential at any publicly funded institution, and we have seen too many examples of wasted ACT taxpayer dollars with poor ministerial leadership under the current Labor-Greens Government,” she said.

“Given UC is the only ACT statutory university in the ACT, we must make sure that it is delivering for the people of Canberra.”

The ACT Greens have backed the union’s call, saying they are deeply troubled by the lack of transparency at UC.

“Canberrans must be able to trust the decisions made by University of Canberra leadership, and that decisions are being made in the best interests of staff, students and the wider
community,” MLA for Brindabella Laura Nuttall said.

A UC spokesperson said the university prioritised the delivery of quality education, impactful research, and engaged campus life.

“At present we are focused on addressing the financial sustainability of the institution, which includes identifying a range of cost saving and revenue-generating opportunities. We will continue to consult with our staff in this process,” the spokesperson said.