But if the inquiry considering a WA public universities merger is looking for a reason it could point to Murdoch U

Uni financials maven Frank Larkins (Uni Melbourne) reports all four had 2022 income down on ’21 – but that was largely due to one-offs that year, Commonwealth COVID emergency money and respective shares of the university-system selling international student recruiter, IDP Education. Plus international students did not return in strength in ’22

However Professor Larkins is optimistic, “the continued growth in total and net assets provides an assurance that WA universities remain financially strong,” he writes, adding that 23 should see “improved financial outcomes.”

But of the four, Murdoch  U, often named as most vulnerable to be merged had the sparsest ’22.

Comprehensive income was down 10 per cent on pre-Covid 2019, nearly twice the next-worse result, from Curtin U. Murdoch U also had the highest deficit ($37m) – just worse than Curtin U. UWA and ECU both recorded surpluses. Plus Murdoch U was down 26 per cent on 2019 fees (as in international students) and charges – compared to UWA which took a 10 per cent hit.