The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) has welcomed university governance reforms as a significant victory for the campaign against toxic cultures and governance failures across the sector.
The federal government will implement a new set of university governance principles to strengthen accountability, transparency and public trust following recommendations from the Expert Council on University Governance.
"This is a massive vindication for NTEU members who've bravely stood up against poor governance, including toxic cultures on university governing bodies that have fuelled bullying, intimidation and secrecy," said NTEU National President Dr Alison Barnes.
"NTEU members who spoke to the Expert Council raised incredibly serious issues about exclusion, harassment, and being prevented from representing their colleagues' interests. This announcement shows those voices were heard."
The Expert Council's report paints a damning picture of governance failures across Australian universities, documenting staff representatives being excluded from meetings, denied information, and facing what the report describes as "bullying, harassment, intimidation, and vilification."
"The principles make it clear something is rotten with university governance and attempt to address some of the serious failures we've seen – from systematic wage theft to toxic cultures that silence dissent," Dr Barnes said.
Key wins for NTEU members include:
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Recognition that staff representatives have been systematically excluded and intimidated – the report documents exactly what NTEU members have been experiencing
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Transparency requirements: universities must publish governing body decisions, consultancy spending, vice-chancellor external roles and remuneration
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Clear limits on conflicts of interest
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Vice-chancellor salary reform – a new remuneration framework will essentially cap outrageous pay packets
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Annual compliance reporting to TEQSA on an 'if not, why not' basis, with consequences for failures
The reforms come after years of campaigning by members, including the recent NTEU report The 'Bell Curve' of University Governance.
"The Expert Council heard loud and clear from NTEU members about cultures of exclusion, about being unable to participate in committees, about papers being withheld, and about feeling powerless to challenge university leadership," Dr Barnes said.
“The explosion in top-level pay that has seen more than 300 executives pocket more than their state premier has been disgraceful. Now we’re going to see some of these outrageous salaries capped.
"This is a strong step on the path to reforming university governance. We will be monitoring closely to ensure universities genuinely adopt these principles and that TEQSA has real teeth to enforce compliance.”
Contact details:
Matt Coughlan 0400 561 480 / [email protected]