Just weeks after HR director Michelle Narustrang left, Murdoch U has lost Provost Andrew Taggart. And the university is not mucking around replacing him. The job is only open to internal applicants and interviews are set for March 20. The university states it is looking for, “a recognised leader with an international reputation who holds a PhD, with a distinguished record of teaching, research, scholarship and service.” The new provost will be the VCs senior deputy and chief academic officer but will not oversight finance or operations.

Professor Taggart was a calming presence when he acted as VC after Richard Higgott’s departure and became provost in mid 2016, after Eeva Leinonen got the top job. Murdoch management says he is retiring after “an outstanding 40-year career in education and (a) valued contribution to the university.”

Most recently Professor Taggart fronted for the university in its long and stalled enterprise agreement negotiations. Which may, or may not, stay stalled after National Tertiary Education Union members meet on Wednesday. The mood of the campus comrades is said to remain firm and not inclined to accept a new agreement with lesser conditions than at the other three public universities in Perth. And Murdoch waters say union members are are not impressed by the university continuing court action against NTEU officials.