It’s governance that needs fixing

The Public Universities Australia group says the most urgent universities issue the new minister should address is “outdated and out-of-touch governance arrangements” which are at the root of almost all universities problems, such as (deep breath), “as declining academic freedom, persecution of whistle-blowers, grotesque senior management salaries, falling academic standards, and growing casualisation of academic staff).”

Of course funding matters, “but providing more money to our universities alone will not solve the problems they face,” PUA asserts.

The lobby has to be a sure thing for an invitation, if the government convenes meetings on its proposed universities accord, if only to annoy vice chancellors.