Government funding and industrial relations frameworks are in conflict in the higher education sector.
The sector’s peak body for industrial relations, the Australian Higher Education Industrial Association (AHEIA), said harmonising these two areas was a key objective in its submission to the independent review of the Secure Jobs, Better Pay Act, being undertaken by Emeritus Professor Mark Bray and Professor Alison Preston.
The review is due to deliver a draft report to government before January 31, 2025. The draft report will contain preliminary findings and recommendations and stakeholders will be given the opportunity to provide further submissions. A final report is due to be delivered to the federal government before March 31, 2025.
When this review was announced the federal government stated that its emphasis was on cooperation rather than conflict.
“We welcome this approach and the objective of taking a non-adversarial approach, particularly in the present economic environment in which there is significant financial and social stress,” the Executive Director of AHEIA, Craig Laughton, said.
“Our sector has experienced a great deal of downside as a result of the provisions of the Act, particularly relating to fixed-term contract restrictions. There also are issues with provisions for employing casual workers that, ironically, make their work more precarious by limiting the ability to provide advanced planning and security for academic staff.
“These two employment options have been vital components of delivering higher education. We believe there are avenues that can provide a workable outcome without major disruption and significant cost escalation for universities.”
Mr Laughton said amendments to industrial relations laws were an ideological over-reach that would diminish the higher education experience and could limit opportunities available for people to study their preferred course and perhaps to study at all.
“Legislative changes should not be focused only on the workforce and workers. In the case of universities they have to take into account students. Students can’t be left behind and become collateral damage,” he said.
“The reality is government funding for universities has been declining in real terms and new laws and cuts to foreign student places have had a material negative impact on universities’ bottom lines. It follows that learning opportunities and jobs will suffer”, he said.
Mr Laughton said one avenue to address the issue is through employment of seasonal academics. This approach was based on the Post-Secondary Education Award, 2020.
“Universities’ reason for being is to educate people and create the nation’s leaders of tomorrow,” he said.
“Government should facilitate this and that’s why AHEIA is an enthusiastic participant in the government’s review process. We need to work together, not be at loggerheads and keep young people at university studying their preferred course.”
Ends
6 December 2024
Craig Laughton | (he/him)
Executive Director | Australian Higher Education Industrial Association |
phone: 0477 799 149
craig.laughton@aheia.edu.au | www.aheia.edu.au |
Contact details:
Craig Laughton | (he/him)
Executive Director | Australian Higher Education Industrial Association |
phone: 0477 799 149
craig.laughton@aheia.edu.au | www.aheia.edu.au |