Federal Court recognises pressure on universities
12 April 2002
The Federal Court has recognised the financial pressure on universities in its decision handed down today in the NTEU’s case against the Commonwealth of Australia. The case was mounted by the NTEU in response to the Federal Government’s Workplace Reform Programme, which offers additional funding to universities in exchange for their adoption of anti-union industrial relations strategies.
In the decision, Justice Weinberg observed:
I accept that the evidence demonstrates that the institutions of higher education in this country, or many of them, are under significant financial pressure. I have no doubt that any additional funding would be keenly sought, and would be of substantial benefit to those institutions in their struggle to maintain reasonable standards in teaching and research. (emphasis added)
Dr Carolyn Allport, NTEU National President, commented: ‘the Federal Government cannot deny any longer that universities are in crisis. Universities have been crying out for more funding for years and the government’s evasion and denial is not helping the system. It is a shame that it has taken a Federal Court decision to give public recognition to a fact that university staff have known for years.’
‘The Federal Court also recognised that there is a widely-held belief that the federal government’s drive towards competition and market-based solutions in the university sector undermines academic freedom and has a profoundly negative effect upon staff morale.’
‘The NTEU calls upon the federal government to immediately release the remainder of the Workplace Relations Programme funding to universities.’ Dr Allport concluded.
NTEU Assistant Secretary, Ted Murphy, said: ‘the Court stated clearly that some of the Workplace Reform Programme criteria had little to do with the proper functioning of universities in this country, and more to do with the Government’s industrial relations agenda. Universities should not be the fall guy for the government’s ideologically-driven industrial relations plan.’
‘Let us be clear. What is at stake here is university autonomy. The NTEU appears to be the only body actively defending the public independence of universities. We are very disappointed that the universities themselves did not take up the fight in the Federal Court to defend the core values of our universities.’ Mr Murphy concluded.
For further comment please contact:
Dr Carolyn Allport, National President ph. (03) 9254 1910; 0419 349 064
Ted Murphy, National Assistant Secretary ph. 0419 517 288
Rhidian Thomas, National Industrial Officer ph. (03) 9254 1910