Victoria’s government would more than double the number of elected staff and student representatives on university councils, under recommendations from a parliamentary committee.
The state government would also amend each university’s enabling act to add legislative clout, and some extra teeth, to transparency requirements recently enacted by Canberra.
The inquiry into university governance, conducted by the lower house’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee, has uncovered starkly divided views about the oversight of Victoria’s eight publicly funded institutions. Staff and student groups say legislative change is needed to resolve a “major crisis”, as governing bodies prioritise commercial interests over education, research and community service.
Vice-chancellors dispute the crisis claims and oppose legislative change, saying existing mechanisms – including federal regulatory frameworks and “dialogue” with the state government – are enough to strengthen accountability.
The committee has sided with staff and students, tabling 17 recommendations around universities’ transparency mechanisms, the composition and operations of their councils, their handling of complaints and their dealings with the state government.
