Senior staff received a message from management yesterday – it wasn’t good news

The university wants savings on salaries at university-executive and staff will need take leave to reduce its financial liability.

“”The University of Western Australia, like every other institution and business around the world, is considering savings where possible, in line with responsible business practice, to ensure future sustainability throughout and beyond the current COVID-19 pandemic,” Vice Chancellor Jane den Hollander said last night.

The campus branch of the National Tertiary Education Union suggests the VC’s plan could be the “least worst”.

“Our first priority is to save jobs. … While some of the university’s measures have a sting to them, we are pleased that the university has been receptive to some of our members’ concerns, for example expenditure on external consultants and contractors. Announcing a salary cut for the VC and senior executive is also a great start, and we hope that this decision to ‘lead from the front’ sets a benchmark for executives of other universities, “ president Sanna Peden says.