NTEU CALLS FOR INQUIRY INTO CHARLES DARWIN UNIVERSITY’S FINANCES
28th August 2004
The Northern Territory Division of the National Tertiary Education Union on Wednesday called for the Territory’s Auditor General to hold an independent inquiry into the finances at Charles Darwin University following conflicting accounts of the institution’s fiscal status.
“During recent enterprise bargaining discussions, senior CDU management indicated that they were unable to move any further on the salary and other claims lodged by relevant unions due to losses incurred in the institution’s TAFE operations,“ said Mark Wheeler, NTEU Industrial Officer for the Division.
“Management at the University claim that losses are the result of funding shortfalls from the Northern Territory Government.”
“The University’s management claim the Northern Territory Government under-funded TAFE to the tune of $10 million in 2003, and that they were forced to divert funds from the University’s education and research activities to make up the short-fall in TAFE funding.”
“In recent meetings with the NTEU, however, the office of the Northern Territory Minister for Employment and Training’s has claimed the opposite is true.”
“A Government spokesperson claimed that CDU TAFE was in fact over-funded because it was allowed to retain its TAFE funding despite failing to meet its TAFE student targets.”
“If the combined union negotiating team is expected to bargain in good faith it is essential to know where the truth lies.”
“We believe that the only way to resolve this issue is for the Northern Territory Auditor General’s Department to hold an immediate independent inquiry into CDU’s finances,” Mr Wheeler concluded.
For information and comment:
Mark Wheeler, Industrial Officer, NTEU Northern Territory Division