AdvocateVOL. 28 NO. 1 ◆ MAR 2021 ◆ ISSN 1329-7295 WHERE’S THE VACCINE FOR INSECURE WORK? JOIN THE CONVERSATION TO PLAN OUR SHARED SOLUTIONS IN OUR WORKPLACES AND IN PARLIAMENT. NTEU NATIONAL PRESIDENT DR. ALISON BARNES LABOR SENATOR TONY SHELDON GREENS SENATOR DR. MEHREEN FARUQI JOIN THE CONVERSATION 19 MARCH 2021 – 2PM AEST RSVP nteu.org.au/vaccine4insecurework

IR Omnibus Bill will worsen insecure employment Academic freedom & (free?) speech Our changing workforce landscape Workload & pay justice at La Trobe Crowd-sourcing research for better uni governance A&TSI employment targets Gearing up for the next bargaining round Campaign to #SaveUVetStaff

COVID-19 INTERNATIONAL Course cuts: Student choice under Job Ready Graduates Fiji’s deportation of USP VC 2020: The year the Government abandoned universities Turkish students fight for democracy The art of protesting in a pandemic Biden and the student loan crisis Introducing the new refreshed look of your benefits platform. Providing NTEU members real-time discounts and offers, your benefits platform has recently refreshed its design. Explore the improved access to your savings and recently launched new benefits! All your shopping needs including real-time and fast access to discounted e-gift cards, whitegoods, and electronic accessories.

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Prepared by UniSuper Management Pty Ltd (ABN 91 006 961 799, AFSL 235907) on behalf of UniSuper Limited (ABN 54 006 027 121, AFSL 492806) the trustee of UniSuper (ABN 91 385 943 850). This information is of a general nature only. Before making any decision in relation to your UniSuper membership, you should consider your personal circumstances, the relevant product disclosure statement for your membership category and whether to consult a qualified financial adviser. *SuperRatings awarded UniSuper 2019 Fund of the Year. Chant West named UniSuper 2019 Fund of the Year. Visit unisuper.com.au/awards for more information. GOVERNANCE Cover image: Mask- In this edition wearing participants in 20 Crowd-sourcing research for the 2021 Invasion Day in Melbourne. Matt Hrkac 2 Confronting 2021 in a COVID better uni governance world Australia's tertiary sector is in crisis. Far from Dr Alison Barnes, National President being sudden and unexpected, this is a crisis that has been a long time in the making. As 3 Healing the scars of 2020 many of us are painfully aware, the COVID Matthew McGowan, General Secretary pandemic has exposed deep structural flaws in how the sector has been governed for decades. 5 NEWS EMPLOYMENT 4 IR Omnibus Bill will worsen insecure employment 22 The changing university workforce landscape Free Sean Turnell! The very significant changes to the university workforce landscape have little if anything to do 5 Where’s the vaccine for insecure with improving the quality of teaching, research work? and community service. ACADEMIC FREEDOM 6 Newcastle management’s 'act in haste, repent at leisure' costs them 7 $6m 24 Academic freedom and (free?) speech 7 U-Vet members campaign to After two reviews into academic freedom, the protect jobs Government is seeking to change its definition in law. Yet NTEU believes that the only way to guarantee individual rights is through strong 8 An independent and peaceful clauses within Enterprise Agreements. Australia INTERNATIONAL 9 Fighting for workload and pay justice at La Trobe's School of 26 Fiji's deportation of the USP VC is Nursing & Midwifery and Rural a shameful act Health The shocking deportation of the University of 16 the South Pacific Vice-Chancellor Professor Pal WERTE! Ahluwalia, and his wife, Sandra Price, is a highly shameful event — in not just the history of the 10 Staffing data 2020 & expectations institution, but also in the history of Fiji and the for the future region. 28 Turkish students fight for 11 Campaigning on A&TSI autonomy and democracy employment targets Millennial and Gen Z students at Istanbul's Boğaziçi University are writing history, not COLUMNS only by resisting heavy-handed police violence, mass detentions, and arrests for defending 12 Underpinning change in democratic rights in Turkey, but also for showing universities how to do it in style. 20 Jeannie Rea, NTEU Immediate Past President 30 Can Biden's plan for 'Education 13 2021: A CAPA homecoming Beyond High School' solve the student loan crisis? Errol Phuah, CAPA President In the race for the US Presidency, Joe Biden put COVID-19 forward an ambitious higher education policy platform, but does it go far enough?

14 Course cuts: Student choice in the 32 Education unions defend & Job Ready Graduates era promote academic freedom Last year’s decline in international student around the world numbers coupled with the Federal Government’s Academic freedom is in a dire state globally, refusal to grant universities access to JobKeeper according to the recent International Further 26 set the scene for heavy austerity measures and Higher Education and Research Conference. across Australian universities.

16 2020: The year the Government DELEGATES abandoned universities 33 Patrick Hampton, UNDA COVID-19 and the Government’s higher education policy response exposed a Morrison- led abandonment of public universities and 34 Brian Pulling, UniSA policies that slashed public funding and increased student fees. MY UNION

18 The art of protesting in a 35 Gearing up for the next pandemic bargaining round 28 When it comes to engaging in activism, perhaps the largest challenges in a pandemic lie in 36 Dr Rod Crewther organising people face-to-face to take action. 37 Dr Olga Lorenzo

38 Professopr Margot Prior Hansen

39 New NTEU staff

ADVOCATE VOL. 28 NO. 1 ◆ MARCH 2021 1 ◆ EDITORIAL

ADVOCATE ISSN 1329-7295 Dr Alison Barnes, National President All text & images ©NTEU 2021 unless otherwise stated Publisher Matthew McGowan k [email protected] D @alisonbarnes25 Editor Alison Barnes Production Manager Paul Clifton Editorial Assistance Anastasia Kotaidis, Helena Spyrou Published by National Tertiary Education Union ABN 38 579 396 344 Confronting 2021 in a PO Box 1323, South Melbourne VIC 3205 Australia Feedback & advertising [email protected] COVID world READ ONLINE AT NTEU.ORG.AU/ADVOCATE Welcome to the first edition of Advocate for 2021. This year has started in much the same vein as 2020 finished.

The sector is still suffering from fund- The Government is, however, not solely ing shortfalls, mainly related to the responsible for job losses and hardship. continued absence of large numbers of University managements should be held international students and the refusal of accountable for their decisions: operating the Federal Government to allow univer- a business model reliant on ripping off sities to qualify for JobKeeper payments. a workforce they’ve chosen to casual- Moreover, the funding changes flowing ise and to prioritise capital works over from the Jobs Ready Graduate legislation investment in staff and, by extension, will be felt within this calendar year. students. Campuses are resuming face-to-face Hope for 2021 teaching and related activities, but may be hampered by periodic restrictions Despite 2020's pervasive gloom, last year as state governments cope with COVID also demonstrated the resilience generat- outbreaks. ed by standing together. As with most other aspects of Australian This year we must focus on building our society, things are unlikely to return to workplace structures and our delegate a pre-COVID ‘normal’ until most of the networks. We need to grow our work- population has been fully vaccinated, place strength by asking our friends and which may not be completed this year. colleagues to stand with us and join the Union. Jobs and revenue devastated NTEU NATIONAL EXECUTIVE We want to tell the stories of the people in 2020 National President Alison Barnes whose jobs were and are affected by General Secretary Matthew McGowan Peak body Universities Australia esti- COVID and its flow-on effects, as well as National Assistant Secretary Gabe Gooding mates the overall operating revenues of the wider stories of the impacts on the Vice-President (Academic) Andrew Bonnell Australian universities fell by $1.8 billion culture and fabric of universities and on Vice-President (General Staff) Cathy Rojas Acting A&TSI Policy Committee Chair in 2020. It predicts a further $2 billion fall society more broadly. Sharlene Leroy-Dyer in 2021. We need to make the community aware National Executive: The result has been that more than of the crisis tertiary education faces and Steve Adams, Nikola Balnave, Damien Cahill, the damaging implications for future Vince Caughley, Cathy Day, Andrea Lamont- 17,300 jobs were lost in the sector last Mills, Michael McNally, Virginia Mansel Lees, year, a figure which is unlikely to include generations of students. We need to build Cathy Moore, Rajeev Sharma, Melissa Slee, all of the casual and fixed-term positions the case for higher education so that the Ron Slee, Michael Thomson, Perpetua Turner, that have gone from around Australia. broader community stands with us. Nick Warner Many of those who have lost their jobs Watch out for information from your face the prospect of losing not only Branch or State Division about when Advocate is available online free as a PDF and an income but a vocation they have invested and how you can get involved, but start e-book at nteu.org.au/advocate in. They face all of the stress and upheav- talking now to your colleagues who aren’t NTEU members may opt for ‘soft delivery’ of al associated with uncertainty. in the Union! Advocate (email notification rather than printed version) at nteu.org.au/soft_delivery The Morrison Government carries much Stay safe, and best wishes for 2021. ◆ The plastic bags used for postage of Advocate to of the responsibility for these job losses. home addresses are 100% biodegradable. Alison Barnes, National President But for its repeated changing of the rules In accordance with NTEU policy to reduce our impact to prevent public universities accessing on the natural environment, JobKeeper, many of these jobs could have Advocate is printed using been saved. vegetable based inks with alcohol free printing initiatives on FSC certified paper under ISO 14001 Environmental Certification.

2 ADVOCATE VOL. 28 NO. 1 ◆ MARCH 2021 FROM THE GENERAL SECRETARY ◆

Matthew McGowan, General Secretary k [email protected] D @NTEUNational

Healing the scars of 2020

We start 2021 facing a different world and a remarkably different context for the work of the Union.

In January 2020, the gig economy was In their recent paper Does the COVID-19 It should be possible for us to sit down largely taken for granted. Universities emergency create an opportunity to reform collectively and imagine the nature of were, on the whole, financially robust. We the Australian University workforce?, Eliza- work we face in the next decade and worked from the office and our days were beth Bare, Janet Beard, Ian Marshman and beyond, and to then talk about the path framed by the morning and afternoon Teresa Tjia spell out their proscriptions to getting there. peak hours. for the future of work in our universities. Sadly, some elements of the paper are The scars of 2020 Fast forward twelve months and so many shockingly familiar, but others take the things have changed. The nature of work But the problems are deep. Most sig- narrative to a further extreme. has changed for many in the community nificant is the lack of trust, which was and may never return to what was con- The answer, apparently is to: create on show in spades during 2020. Many sidered normal. greater flexibility in our workforce; re- current and now former staff suffer deep duce redundancy pay; remove 'prescrip- scars resulting from the way in which the Casualisation & precarity tive academic workloads clauses'; and cuts and job losses were handled. And when I say job losses, I mean careers de- There is a significant community dis- increase the use of fixed term employ- stroyed, people and families left with no cussion about returning to office work, ment. income, despair in those losing their and the issue of casualisation and livelihood, and those left behind to precarious work practices has dom- pick up the pieces. inated social and political debates. At each university the In the end, we will do what we Casual work and its impact on discussions about our must to improve working lives on individuals and communities, the bargaining agenda have campus. At each university the economy and the nation, is at the already started. While many are discussions about our bargaining core of the discussion about how agenda have already started. While we handled the pandemic, and how still feeling the impact of job many are still feeling the impact of we recover. cuts, we have an opportunity job cuts, we have an opportunity The employment contract is a so- to make our voices heard loud to make our voices heard loud and cial as well as legal construct. The and clear. clear. nature of employment regulation Staff have sacrificed and suffered between an employer and an indi- through the pandemic to keep our vidual affects more than the two entities These are not a prescription for valued institutions functioning and vibrant. Now involved. The aggregate of our employ- and harmonious industrial environments, they have a right to expect management ment conditions impact on the function- nor are they a prescription for healthy to deal with the problems management ing of the society we live in. and safe work. Worse still, they pro- has created. Problems such as excessive The Victorian Premier, Daniel Andrews, pose a permanent embedding of casual workloads, work intensification, casualis- has made many comments about the employment in a 'career pathway' for ation and academic freedom. impact of insecure work on our economy. casual academics. This would result in These issues will dominate 2021 and be- Mr Andrews claimed that 'insecure work an entire academic career existing within yond, and the future of the higher educa- is no good'. precarious employment, from entry into academia as a level A academic to 'Casual tion system demands that we collectively 'I think we’ve … seen a structural weak- Professor'. stand up and demand better. ◆ ness in our economy that has been very graphically exposed,' he said. However, there are genuine issues that Matthew McGowan, General we should discuss as a university commu- Secretary As two-thirds of university Enterprise nity. It should be possible for the Union Agreements expire this year, the Union and the sector to discuss the future of will be looking to address this weeping work and the issues we face, as profes- sore in our economy. But we cannot sional staff and academic staff enter new assume an easy path. and different realities.

ADVOCATE VOL. 28 NO. 1 ◆ MARCH 2021 3 ◆ NEWS

Morrison's IR Omnibus Bill will worsen insecure employment

The Morrison Government’s proposed changes to Australia’s fate. It’s unclear at this point how many industrial relations system via the ‘Omnibus’ Bill introduced to support the Bill in its present form, or whether the Government will further Parliament in December 2020 is likely to make insecure employ- amend the Bill to get their support. The ment worse, not better. ACTU and unions continue to lobby the Senators to oppose the Bill. The Bill includes the following changes: ALP’s initiatives • To enable employers to simply deem ALP Leader Anthony Albanese sharpened a worker as a casual, regardless of the the debate when he announced on 10 nature of the work performed. February that a future ALP government • While the Bill proposes a nominally im- will address some of the worst aspects of proved conversion to ongoing employ- insecure work. The commitments include: ment clause, it is not automatic and • To legislate for portable annual and any employer can refuse an application sick leave entitlements for insecurely on, as yet to be defined, 'reasonable employed staff. grounds', with no right of appeal or access to the Fair Work Commission • To place a cap on fixed-term contracts. (FWC). • To ensure labour hire workers be paid • If a casual employee successfully the same as ongoing co-workers. challenges their employment status • To create a fair test based on the nature and a court rules that they are owed of the work to determine whether a entitlements because of the regular, worker can be classified as a casual. Free Sean ongoing nature of the work, the casual Turnell! loading already paid to the employee These initiatives could potentially have can be deducted from the employer’s a significant impact on the prevalence of liability. insecure employment in higher educa- tion, where 65% of the workforce is now Dr Sean Turnell, an • The Bill would introduce 'part-time active member of NTEU employed either casually or on a fixed- flexibility' into the awards covering the term contract. and a well-respected retail, food and accommodation indus- economist at Macquarie tries, allowing part-time employees Online seminar to work extra shifts at ordinary rates, University, has been de- There will be an opportunity to engage without any overtime pay. ACTU Sec- tained by the Myanmar directly with some key politicians around retary Sally McManus has argued that military. these issues, with an online seminar, this is simply casual employment, and 'Where’s the vaccine for insecure work?', No reason has been given for will inevitably reduce take-home pay. being organised for 19 March (see p.5). his arbitrary detention. NTEU The original Bill included a provision to joins with Sean’s wife, Ha Vu, his Tony Sheldon, ALP Senator for NSW and allow employers to offer pay deals that family, friends and colleagues Chair of the Senate Select Committee do not meet the 'Better Off Overall Test' in calling for Sean’s immediate on Job Security, and Dr Mehreen Faruqi, (BOOT) for two years, if the FWC consid- release and return to his family in Greens Senator for NSW and the Greens’ ered it appropriate, especially in a COVID Australia Education spokesperson, will be the context. The BOOT test stipulates that guest speakers, along with NTEU Nation- On 4 March, the NTEU Nation- any agreement must be better than the al President, Dr Alison Barnes. al Executive noted with the existing award conditions. The end result strongest possible concern the would be significant numbers of workers Sign the petition detention of Professor Turnell. suffering pay cuts. The ACTU is running a petition to the Sean was advising the Myanmar The Government has now dropped this Morrison Government, 'You can’t heal the Government on economic policy, provision after strong opposition from economy by hurting workers', calling on using his expertise to help bring unions, the ALP and Greens, and even the the Government to drop the Bill. So far it investment and job opportu- One Nation senators. has over 80,000 signatures. nities to the country, to help Myanmar integrate with other Passage in Senate uncertain The petition can be found at nteu.info/ omnibuspetition. ◆ economies in the region and the At the time of writing, there is no clear world, and to help lift people out timetable for the Bill’s consideration Michael Evans, National Organiser ◆ of poverty. by the Senate, where ultimately the (Media & Engagement) five crossbench Senators will decide its

4 ADVOCATE VOL. 28 NO. 1 ◆ MARCH 2021 NEWS ◆

ADVOCATE VOL. 28 NO. 1 ◆ MARCH 2021 5 ◆ NEWS

Newcastle management’s 'act in haste, repent at leisure' costs them $6m

A decision by the University 3. Teachers No ability to direct staff of Newcastle (UON) to force 4. Staff for whom the direction would Disturbingly, and embarrassingly, the all staff to take 5 days’ annual create a negative leave balance. Chief People and Culture Officer and the leave in April 2020 has been Associate Director, Employee Relations After months of negotiation and several overturned, with a recommen- and Work, Health and Safety admit- proposed settlements that management dation management recredit ted that they had not considered the walked away from, NTEU sought arbitra- Agreements or the Fair Work Act, they had all staff at a cost of around $6 tion. Management was initially represent- sought no internal or external advice on million. ed by the Australian Higher Education the legality of the direction, they did no Industry Association (AHEIA) but engaged COVID-19 forced leave research of their own and did not provide counsel shortly before the hearing in any advice to the Vice-Chancellor on the On 31 March 2020, University of Newcas- November 2020. tle (UON) Vice-Chancellor Alex Zelinsky legality of the direction. It was not until The arbitration commenced and Counsel announced all staff would be directed after the direction had been effected for management informed the Commis- to take 5 days’ annual leave from 20–24 that they considered the legality of the sion that they no longer pressed the issue April 2020. An exemption process was direction, well after we had served our of academics and staff directed into a instituted, but the only criteria for being dispute. negative leave balance (to the extent of granted one was if work was essential to On 24 November 2020, the Fair Work the negative balances). Arbitration was the University’s operations. Commission (FWC) found management thus confined to professional staff and could direct professional and teaching Australian workers benefit from a range teachers on the questions of: of core entitlements which exist only staff to take the five days’ annual leave 1. Did clause 57.9 of the University of because the union movement has collec- but could not give such a direction Newcastle Professional Staff Enter- tively fought for them over generations. under s 93(3) of the Act because of the prise Agreement 2018 and clause In 1856, it was the 8-hour workday. In absence of constraints in the clauses on 77.9 of the University of Newcastle 1885 compensation for injuries in the the exercise of a direction to take annual Academic Staff and Teachers Enterprise workplace, in 1947 the 40-hour week, leave meant that the clauses were not Agreement 2018 permit the University which became 38 in 1983. In 1951 long consistent with the Act, and therefore to direct professional and teaching service leave, in 1971 unfair dismissal invalid and of no effect. staff to take the five days’ annual leave laws were introduced, in 1972 equal pay The effect of the decision is that UON between 20-24 April 2020? for women and in 1973 a minimum wage management had no ability to direct for all. 2. If the answer to question 1 is ‘yes’, staff to take annual leave unless the staff was it reasonable within the meaning And, let’s not forget paid sick leave that member has accrued 40 days of paid of section 93(3) of the Fair Work Act. was so critical through the first year of annual leave because it is a persuasive decision that is likely to be followed in the pandemic. Our position was that the answers were any future dispute. ‘no’ and ‘no’, the University’s position was It was only in 1941 that one week of the opposite. annual leave became universal for Aus- As concerns professional and teaching staff, it also meant the resolution of a tralian workers. This was followed by two The evidence of management was that separate dispute in the favour of staff and weeks in 1945, three weeks in 1963, and they had not considered the provisions the NTEU as management was unable four weeks in 1974. As recent attacks on of the agreements before making the di- to direct a nine day close down over the penalty rates demonstrate, these entitle- rection. The idea was floated for the first Christmas period. ments cannot be taken for granted. They time on Sunday 29 March 2020, raised must be vigorously defended. and decided in an Executive Committee The decision recommended manage- meeting on 30 March, and then commu- ment recredit all staff five days annual NTEU disputes management's nicated to staff the next day, 31 March leave, which management did at a cost of actions 2020. around $6 million. On 9 April 2020, the NTEU disputed the Under cross-examination, serious Management has appealed the decision, UON management direction that all staff questions were raised as to whether which was heard by the Full Bench of take annual leave as being contrary to the UON managers had colluded in the the FWC on 26 February. The decision provisions of the University’s Enterprise preparation of their evidence. Witnesses has been reserved but management has Agreements and the Fair Work Act 2009. had no adequate answers, in our view, undertaken not to seek repayment if The dispute related to four different as to why some had helped prepare the successful. ◆ categories of staff: statements of others, why some had read the statements of others and why some Josh Gava, Senior Industrial 1. Academic staff paragraphs were replicated verbatim in Officer, NSW Division 2. Professional staff multiple statements.

6 ADVOCATE VOL. 28 NO. 1 ◆ MARCH 2021 NEWS ◆

Image: Name

U-Vet members campaign to protect jobs

Staff at the University of Mel- place injuries. These issues were later much they value the service and want it bourne’s U-Vet Animal Hos- resolved, however further concerns were to thrive. As well as a training institution, pital in Werribee have come reported to the Branch more recently. U-Vet is highly valued in both metropoli- tan Melbourne and across Victoria. together to campaign to save While a large proportion of University staff jobs and protect the ser- staff shifted to working from home while Beyond the campaign of NTEU members vice against harmful cuts. Victoria’s pandemic restrictions were in and staff, a change.org petition lamenting place, hospital staff continued to serve the loss of a 24 hour service attracted Delegates and NTEU members penned students and the wider community under over 4500 signatures. In response to this, an open letter outlining concerns about intensely difficult circumstances, with the campaign and attention from local reduced opportunities for staff and regular COVID-19 testing and changes to media and government, management students, extreme workloads, dimin- rostering that moved staff in to work are- have already walked back the cuts to ished clinical experiences and damage to as they were unused to or not trained in. the 24 hour service, citing the change reputation in both the local community as a ‘temporary’ measure. It remains to After members and delegates met to as well as international accreditation as a be seen whether the promised service discuss their experiences and reactions training institution. quality can be maintained if the staff cuts to the proposed changes, the idea of an go ahead. ◆ Despite reduced staffing in 2020, the open letter was born, with staff, students hospital continued to serve a similar and the community adding their names Simon Linskill, Branch Organiser, number of clients in the community as online before the document was submit- University of Melbourne previous years. Clinical and professional ted as part of the consultation process. staff have both reported high levels of For further information on the cam- stress related to workload, as well as A physical copy of the letter has also paign, including the open letter, testimonials and photos, the campaign reporting low confidence in the manage- gained a large number of signatures on website is: site. Additionally, staff, students and the ment of the service. fvasunion.gitbook.io/u-vet-open-letter community have been encouraged to sub- The site received an improvement notice mit photos and testimonials to show how in 2018-19 following high levels of work-

ADVOCATE VOL. 28 NO. 1 ◆ MARCH 2021 7 ◆ NEWS

An independent and peaceful Australia

The Independent and Peaceful Australia Network (IPAN) has established a national people’s Inquiry Exploring the Case for an Independent and Peaceful Australia: What are the costs and consequences of Australia’s involvement in US-led wars and the US Alliance? And what are the alternatives?

NTEU Queensland Division and the NTEU The experts who make up the Panel nationally are members of IPAN. Leaders are: This Inquiry has been established in • Panel Chair: Kellie Tranter response to the issues we are confront- • First Peoples: Terry Mason and Deb- ed with as a country, nationally and highlighted the amount of funding that bie Woodbridge internationally, and the need to increase bilateral defence projects with the US awareness and to build a movement for • Foreign Affairs: Dr Alison Broinowski receive compared to higher education change towards peaceful, independent funding. It was quite shocking even • Political (incl Democratic rights): Australian foreign policies. though it was no surprise. Greg Barns QC Australia has supported wars initiated There was a webinar on two of the focus • Military and Defence: Dr Vince Scap- by the United States since the end of areas: Ian Lowe talking on ‘Environment’ patura WW2. The countries of Korea, Vietnam, and Rev Peter Catt on ‘Social and Com- Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria did not • Environment and Climate Change: munity’ impacts held on 25 February. The threaten Australian security, but those Prof Ian Lowe next webinar will be held on 25 March wars resulted in the deaths and maiming – chaired by Kellie Tranter, with Alison of millions of civilians, destruction of • Economic: Dr Chad Satterlee Broinowski talking on foreign policy, and infrastructure and contamination of the • Social and community: Very Reverend Vince Scappatura on military and defence affected countries environments. Dr Peter Catt impacts. The findings of the Inquiry into Austral- • Workers and Unions: A/P Jeannie Rea All people and organisations interested in ian SAS war crimes in Afghanistan are a peaceful and independent Australia are damning, reinforcing the need for an end Reports will be written by Inquiry Panel encouraged to make submissions to the to our involvement in foreign wars where leaders with an executive summary writ- Inquiry, with the closing date being 31 July Australian security is not threatened. ten by the overall Chair. The final report 2021. NTEU Qld Division will be making a will be ready to publish and promote submission. The working groups in each IPAN has identified eight areas of Austral- towards the end of 2021. State are also available to give a brief ian society affected by the US-Australia presentation to any organisation which is Alliance and/or the wars which we have The Inquiry was launched on the 26th interested in hearing about the Inquiry. ◆ participated in, especially those over the of November last year. IPAN has been publicising the Inquiry through all sectors past 20 years. For each of these areas Michael McNally, Qld Division of society to encourage as many organ- IPAN have enlisted a panel leader, many Secretary isations and people as possible to enter of whom are NTEU members or ex-mem- If you are interested in getting in touch bers. their submissions. Working groups in each state/territory have responsibility with the working party in your state please email [email protected] IPAN have also confirmed a chair for the for managing this process. Inquiry Panel – lawyer and investigative IPAN website journalist Kellie Tranter. At a recent presentation to the Queens- independentpeacefulaustralia.com.au land Division, ex-NTEU Division Organis- Submissions will be sought in relation to er, Ross Gwyther, and IPAN Qld Repre- Facebook facebook.com/AusInquiry these eight areas, with a period of around sentative Annette Brownlie, outlined Twitter twitter.com/AusInquiry six months for submissions to come. the progress of the Inquiry so far and Image: Linda Xu/Unsplash

8 ADVOCATE VOL. 28 NO. 1 ◆ MARCH 2021 NEWS ◆

Image: Andrea Piacquadio/Pexels

Fighting for workload and pay justice

Federal Labor MP Ged Kear- Midwifery and Rural Health. The idea was Ged, of course, agreed to meet with the ney threw her considerable simple, obtain the data to see if it backed workers across La Trobe's Nursing & Mid- nursing and unionist weight up the claim that people are overworked wifery and Rural Health. This invigorated behind the NTEU's campaign and, in some cases, underpaid. our activists and delegates who went back to their workplace and encouraged at La Trobe's School of Nursing Not surprisingly, the data did back up more people to attend the meeting. & Midwifery and Rural Health that claim. Impacted workers from across all La around workload allocation Coming to the table and pay rates for casuals. As Trobe campuses participated in the a result of our campaign, the The next step was to request a meeting meeting and agreed as a group to give the Heads of both Schools a second chance to Heads of Schools have agreed with both Heads of School to discuss 'come to the party' so to speak. to a consultation process. these problems and come to a solution. The requests were reasonable, pay casual Consultation process Fear of wage theft staff for the work they do, correctly cat- egorise the type of work completed, and Once word got back to the Heads of In the final semester of 2020, a group of ensure that workload plans reflect the School that union members in the School activists and delegates at La Trobe ap- actual workload. of Nursing & Midwifery and Rural Health proached the local NTEU Branch for help were not going to walk away silently, Initially, the Heads of both the School of with the campaign. they agreed to a consultation process in Nursing & Midwifery and Rural Health semester one of 2021. As we all know, wage theft is not uncom- refused to respond to requests to meet. mon in the university sector; the cynic Not to be easily put off the members The fight is not over, but workers across in me feels that wage theft is simply a regrouped and decided collectively that La Trobe's School of Nursing & Midwifery part of the business strategies for many it would be a good idea to see if Ged and Rural Health will not take this lying industries. Kearney MP would like to come and have down. a discussion with them. The first part of the campaign involved We look forward to working with the the School members coming together to Before Ged Kearney became the popular Heads of La Trobe's School of Nursing & discuss their concerns and next steps. federal member for Cooper, she was a Midwifery and Rural Health to make sure They then established a working group nurse who served as Assistant Secretary, workers are not only paid for all the work and created a survey designed to collect Federal President and Victorian Branch they do but are paid under the correct data on how workers were being impact- President of the ANMF before being classification. ◆ ed across both Schools. appointed Federal Secretary. Not to Aimee Hulbert, Organiser, The survey went out to all workers who mention she is also a former President of La Trobe University worked in the discipline of Nursing & the ACTU.

ADVOCATE VOL. 28 NO. 1 ◆ MARCH 2021 9 ◆ WERTE!

Staffing data 2020 & expectations for the future

University staffing data Rank State/ All staff Academic Professional Territory for 2020 was released in 2019-20 % 2019-20 % 2019-20 % December. In keeping 1 VIC 46 15.8% 32 36.4% 14 6.9% with previous years, 2 QLD 43 15.4% 16 19.5% 27 13.6% there has been a strong 3 WA 32 23.7% 10 18.9% 22 26.8% increase in the number 4 ACT 23 40.4% 7 41.2% 16 40.0% of Aboriginal and 5 NSW 20 4.4% 8 5.2% 12 4.0% Torres Strait Islander 6 SA 9 7.0% 2 3.7% 7 9.1% (A&TSI) academic 7 TAS 1 4.2% 3 33.3% -2 -13.3% and professional staff 8 NT -3 -6.0% 0 0.0% -3 -9.7% nationally, and across 9 ACU -3 -7.3% 0 0.0% -3 -10.0% institutions in most Table 1. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staffing increase/decrease, 2019-2020 States and Territories.

While this is positive, the initial stages of the pandemic, was By way of example, full-year 2018 uni- expectations for not available to Australian universities. versity student data showed fifty-one employment growth from This has resulted in the loss of dedicated percent of A&TSI commencing and total academic and general/professional staff, students were studying in the areas of 2021 and beyond are very many of whom were already in insecure arts, performing arts, humanities, and different. employment. commerce. Enrolment growth in these areas has been consistent over a 14-year Annual university staffing data is report- COVID-19, job losses & the Job period. ed in numbers (headcount) and full-time Ready Graduates package equivalent (FTE) and provides a snapshot It must be recognised that the Jobs Ready of full-time and part-time staffing in COVID-19 has been devastating for the Graduate package provides a total of March each calendar year. A&TSI staffing Australian higher education sector. The 1,400 Commonwealth Supported Places is reported separately to data for all staff, loss of staff, including Aboriginal and for A&TSI students in rural and regional and like the all-staff data, is separated Torres Strait Islander staff, is simply areas. Although, the increase in Common- into both number and FTE. inexcusable and could have been averted wealth Support Places will be of little through specific, targeted support to the impact if enrolments into those targeted A&TSI staffing in both academic and sector. Rather than assisting and sup- course areas are significantly reduced general/professional roles have risen for porting, the Federal Government chose because of higher course fees. sixteen out of the past twenty years. In this time to implement the Jobs Ready those years where A&TSI employment Graduate package. How this will impact A&TSI employment decreased, this decrease was directly in- is yet to be seen, yet what is certain, is if fluenced by government policy of the day. The Jobs Ready Graduate package targets enrolments into those study areas begin courses in the areas of arts, performing to reduce, universities will seek to cut In 2006, the Howard Government's Higher arts, humanities, and commerce, deeming staffing in these areas. Education Workplace Relations Require- those fields to be of less importance ments (HEWRRs) and changes to AbStudy to Australian industry, and therefore With a potential loss of Aboriginal and directly influenced A&TSI staff employ- subject to increased course costs. While Torres Strait Islander students in the ment and student enrolments. initial student enrolment data has seen years to come, it is feared A&TSI staff will carry this loss directly, with conse- The current state of the Australian numbers maintained or increased in quential impacts for their families and higher education sector is influenced those targeted subject areas, it is simply communities. ◆ by COVID-19, coupled with a Federal too early to determine the total impact of the Jobs Ready Graduate package upon Government who have ensured assis- Adam Frogley, National Aboriginal student enrolments. tance provided to other industries during & Torres Strait Islander Director

WERTE! is Advocate's Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander news section. Werte (pronounced wer-da) is an Arrernte word – a greeting like 'hello', it can also be used to grab someone’s attention.

10 ADVOCATE VOL. 28 NO. 1 ◆ MARCH 2021 WERTE! ◆

Campaigning on A&TSI employment targets

NTEU members are Enterprise Agreements, but it is up to the members clearly articulating that the en- NTEU to lead these conversations. forcement and strengthening of current passionate about clauses is core NTEU business. Aboriginal and Torres The conversation with management may sound like an industrial task but in fact all The power of being vocal about en- Strait Islander (A&TSI) Branches should see this as an organising forcement is in the understanding that employment targets. opportunity. This was made no more ap- the spotlight will force management to parent to me than during the last round make real movements towards action on Development of targets of bargaining at Monash University, when improving A&TSI employment. we informed members that management NTEU has long advocated for and won Actively communicating about NTEU ex- had pushed back against the current clauses in Enterprise Agreements around pectations on enforcement and showing A&TSI targets in the Agreement. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander potential inaction by management is a (A&TSI) employment targets. We were met with shock and intense powerful organising tool when it may Traditionally, the first iterations of em- frustration at what some members and mean raising serious questions about ployment targets Enterprise Agreements potential members assumed was a core whether management are complying with referred to a percentage of the overall value of Monash, not realising that tar- the terms of Government funding agree- staff cohort, while a useful figure, this gets were in fact an NTEU initiative only ments and expectations of Universities proved to be easy for management to ma- adopted by universities through our cam- Australia. paigning and organising on the ground. nipulate as the percentage of A&TSI staff Management should no longer be able would increase when a redundancy round What this told me is that A&TSI em- to rely on glossy employment strategy occurred without a single A&TSI person ployment targets were seen by Monash documents without having to show real being employed. members as a key part of their unionism structured programs and the progress To address this in recent bargaining and it was a reminder that union values of attached to those programs. fairness and equity in the workplace is of rounds, the National A&TSI Policy Com- Put simply in order to organise effectively huge importance to our members. mittee has pushed for these to be hard in this space we need to ask ourselves numeric targets, which have the benefit Organising opportunities four questions: of providing a consistent picture of the level of A&TSI employment, weathering Organising around Aboriginal and Torres • Are we actively engaging with our fluctuations in overall employment num- Strait Islander employment targets A&TSI members? bers due to redundancies and restructur- should be a priority for Branches through- • Do we have control of the narrative? ing of universities. out the life of Agreements, but it is never more important than in the year leading • Is our membership educated on the While the NTEU started the conversation, into bargaining. history of A&TSI employment targets over the years other external players have at our Branches? joined to ensure that universities must First and foremost to organise in this take the increased employment of A&TSI area Branches need to ensure that the • Are we actively communicating people seriously. narrative is correct and being controlled managements action, or inaction to by us, for too many years management members? Not only are there clear stipulations has taken the lead in telling the university in government funding arrangements All of this can build power as our community that targets are a core value around the need for universities to be membership is passionate about A&TSI of the institution rather than something striving towards a 3% target, but the employment targets. that has to be fiercely defended and im- representative body Universities Australia proved on by the NTEU in every bargain- To organise in this space is important for has also set the same target for universi- ing round. the NTEU, for members and potential ties in its Indigenous Strategy 2017-2020. members, and for the respect and safety Union education is a key part of ensuring of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island- Conversations with members will advocate for A&TSI targets, er community within higher education management but also a key tool in attracting potential and is something we should be actively members to join the NTEU and protect With targets now being an obligation for pursuing in the lead up to the next round the current clauses. This union education universities in order to receive funding of bargaining. ◆ from the Government, it has created must also be done in partnership with a scenario where management may A&TSI members at the Branch, there is no Frank Gafa, Branch Organiser, be increasingly open to constructive stronger narrative to members, potential Monash University conversations around meeting targets in members and management than affected

ADVOCATE VOL. 28 NO. 1 ◆ MARCH 2021 11 ◆ FROM THE IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT

Jeannie Rea, Immediate Past President k [email protected]

Underpinning change in universities

We need to talk about the future of universities. We are in a moment of disruption. Crises can lead to progressive radical change, but also deep conservatism. We have to act quickly, but not hastily, and make time to listen, think and debate. I suggest some starting places to underpin these conversations.

Australian universities are on emergency. Australian universities are loans scheme making fees a non-issue Aboriginal land engaged in many environmental sustain- must be debunked. And fully deregulated ability and planetary health activities fees remain the norm for most postgrad- Acknowledging, recognising and respect- across all aspects of university opera- uate courses, including those critical to ing that sovereignty has never been tions. However, there are also contradic- progressing careers. University debts ceded is a start. Unpacking what this tions increasingly evident to internal and continue to be a millstone, and even means is the next step. Universities have external stakeholders. a deterrent. Free government funded a lot of rhetoric, policies and plans, but tertiary education is a reality in some For example, educating for sustainability persistence is lacking. The wavering of countries and increasingly an election and social justice is undermined if re- institutional commitment to keep going issue in others. adds to the anger, disappointment and search and commercial partnerships and frustration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait investments continue with organisations Insecure employment Islander staff, students and communities who are part of the problem. Declaring a Australia now has a two tier academic who are repeatedly having their hopes climate emergency would force a closer employment model, with a thinning tier dashed, while they are still expected to look – and increase pressure upon uni- of ongoing staff while the majority are keep trying. versities. Listening, learning and acting upon the intersections with Aboriginal employed sessionally and do most of the Starting from recognition that university and Torres Strait Islander knowledges, teaching. The former have a career. The campuses and other sites are on A&TSI standpoints and perspectives on Country latter have no security, no career paths, should be fundamental to not just how are critical. If universities do not provide no paid leave, no say, and their casual universities make partnerships with A&TSI leadership in acting on climate change, contracts can be withdrawn anytime. peoples and communities, but should be they are part of the problem. Amongst professional staff more jobs are foregrounded in undertaking university now temporary. The current trend in uni- operations and across education, research Equity, inclusion and diversity versity employment is to cobble together and engagement. The neoliberal university has become a series of casual and short term contract Decolonising universities more equitable, inclusive and diverse, but positions. At the same time, these, usually this has more to do with the massifica- younger, workers are relied upon to im- Universities must face up to their com- tion of higher education and demand for plement the new initiatives. Their passion, plicity in colonisation and post-colonial- tertiary qualified workers. Our campuses commitment and loyalty are callously ism. The movement for decolonisation look different than a generation ago exploited. The impact of this workforce has not yet publically erupted in Austral- with many more women and children of model on quality, integrity and even pro- ian universities nor have demands to dis- migrants. They are more representative ductivity is under increasing scrutiny. mantle the structures and institutions of of the Australian population, but this is Queries from students and others are not white supremacy, as is the case in the UK also a thin veneer. Women, for example, deflected by explanations that it is be- and North America. But the mumblings are the majority of staff and students, yet cause of inadequate government funding. are gaining momentum. sexism and gender based violence are still The question being asked of university common. A few gaining entry to bastions The past and ongoing roles of Australian leaderships is what are you doing about of pale, male power makes little change. universities will increasingly come under changing this. The option of subsidising scrutiny, as they must. Universities have The racial, ethnic, cultural and religious domestic student education with inter- direct historical roles in the dispossession, diversity amongst academic staff is low national student fee income has finished. murder and colonisation of First Nations compared to similar countries. The more And the next generation of academics peoples of this continent as well as in the diverse student population see this and have had enough and are abandoning Pacific. And complicity continues today, in increasingly ask why. Class, is not spoken academia. what is taught and researched, as well as of, yet the barriers of low income and in ongoing discrimination and racism faced expectations start at school and continue Democratising universities by A&TSI people, other First Nations Peo- through university. Current scholarship Decision-making in universities is made ple and People of Colour. White supremacy schemes make a difference only for the by vice chancellors and their coterie, remains systemic and systematic. chosen few. employed on limited term contracts, There is a climate emergency ‘Free TAFE’ opened the door again to often with limited loyalty to the univer- free tertiary education. The rhetoric of sity community. University councils have Australian universities have not joined shrunk and are dominated by corporate the international call to declare a climate a higher education deferred payment continued opposite page...

12 ADVOCATE VOL. 28 NO. 1 ◆ MARCH 2021 FROM THE CAPA PRESIDENT ◆

To this day, much of these concerns tional students who work for below 2021: A have felt only superficially acknowl- minimum wage, the insecure employ- edged by decision-makers. For many of ment of students engaged in sessional CAPA home us, 2020 ended with very low morale. teaching. Where to from here? Regional Representation. This is part of CAPA's long term strategic plan coming NTEU and CAPA always had a to build a Regional student repre- long-standing working relationship. sentative community. We need to This collaboration can still vary from For years, we saw the higher improve our long term longevity as an year to year, but as the new CAPA organisation, strengthen our working education sector experience National President, I will be redirecting decades of sector growth relationship with RUN and further ourselves back to what we know and legitimise our coverage of representing despite the Government's what has always been 'home'. So I will all postgraduate students. aggressive funding cuts. prioritise strengthening the working re- Universities adopted a man- lationships between our organisations Research Training Program. Universi- agement-led culture focused for this new chapter of our sector. ties have continued to stretch their resources to increase their research more on expansion and I'm fortunate to be based in Melbourne student cohort at students' expense. profitability than delivering and will be on-site at the NTEU head Many PhD programs are pulling back quality knowledge to our office as often as needed. Frequently to guaranteeing 3 years of stipend wider community. running into the National Officers in only. We will be working with the Dept the office to bounce ideas off will bring This period of perceived sector pros- of Education to change any incentive an organic and coherent voice between to rushing student completions and perity was never going to last; we all university staff and students. I believe knew the bubble would eventually hopefully increasing the minimum we are the majority and, therefore, stipend amount. burst, and as always, those with the the authentic representative voice of least power or influence were going to universities to parliament. Quality of Education. We want to see be taken for granted. work-integrated learning used to en- What to expect in 2021? In the land of postgraduates, 2020 was rich student learning and not a means a year to forget. A large proportion of This is the year we regroup and push of labour exploitation. We also want to our cohort (international students) back. We saw last year, both staff and see many courses back on campus fully were made to feel unwelcome in Aus- students were the designated cannon and expect a standard to be developed tralia after a comment was made by fodder through unprecedented record for online learning. our Prime Minister that students could redundancies and poor education SSAF. As always, we need to see our just return home. Many of our course- delivery for students. However, this student organisations receive a higher work students were provided, rushed is only the beginning, and we should proportion of SSAF. This ranges from online learning material without any always be prepared for the worst. working, helping less funded student fee reduction for lower education We should be under no illusion we associations develop to justify earning quality. could ever get back exactly what we more SSAF. However, we will also be Our research students were restricted had before. Then again, do we really appealing to government(s) for greater to work from home, unable to gather want to bring back a broken system accountability on the proportion of ◆ data from lab experiments or in the that did us wrong? No. We want a SSAF given to student associations. field. Many universities were reluctant better system where our universities' Errol Phuah, to provide scholarship extensions to success and prosperity flow through the President, cover living costs for students who lost entire sector, not just for the top end. Council of Australian time in research. Holistically speaking, Priorities for 2021 Postgraduate these disruptions to our research, Associations study, employment and social isolation Wage theft and Job Security. This k bore heavily on our mental health. includes the exploitation of interna- [email protected]

Underpinning change in universities continued... appointees, while the few elected staff to exercise any self-determination in their Meanwhile students across the world and students are viewed with suspicion. jobs. Critique is construed as criticism. are increasingly organising and acting for Academic boards are toothless tigers Outcomes of consultation are pre-de- change. I could go on, but this is a start. with pre-determined agendas and no termined and ‘captured’ with the latest While there are pockets of recognition of time for questioning. Electing leaders digital tool. the need to do things differently and cast from amongst peers, as used to be the off the platitudes, across our public uni- Meanwhile, there is much talk of encour- case with deans, has disappeared. Stu- versity system we need to democratise aging student agency and even activism. dent unions still operate under draconian power and decision-making. ◆ While staff are constantly judged as to government legislation. And too many whether they are ‘fit for purpose’, there Jeannie Rea was NTEU National staff are afraid to join or become active in are few change making role models. President 2010–2018, and is an their union. There is little scope for staff Associate Professor at VU

ADVOCATE VOL. 28 NO. 1 ◆ MARCH 2021 13 ◆ COVID-19

Image: David Ballew/Unsplash

Course cuts Student choice in the Job Ready Graduates era

Last year’s decline in international student numbers, coupled with the Federal Government’s funding cuts and refusal to grant universities access to JobKeeper set the scene for heavy aus- terity measures across Australian universities. In 2021 multiple course cuts are the result.

As NTEU members know too well the Of universities in this category, the (especially Performing Arts), Languages, major cost saving measure pursued NTEU has been able to tally a total of Sciences, and Maths – areas that mainly by university managements has been at least 1783 courses (units or subjects) contain disciplines slated to receive to reduce the number of staff they and 151 programs (usually degrees) that funding cuts this year under the Federal employ. Universities Australia recently have been slated for removal in 2021. Government’s Job Ready Graduates confirmed that its members had shed legislation. This figure, however, only covers a 17,300 staff in 2020 – an enormous few universities where numbers are While redundancies and job losses number, one that exceeds even the available. There is a much larger group among our insecurely employed col- combined total of all public job loss of universities that have not announced leagues have been felt strongly by staff, announcements made by individual course cuts at an institutional level but it is current and future students who universities. have reported significant job losses. will feel the impact of reduced choice It is difficult to conceive of a scenario Reports from our Branches suggest that and opportunity in their education, under which this mass dismissal of staff these universities are quietly reducing especially in regional areas where there will not impact upon the core teaching or withholding course offerings on a are already limited choices. and research work of our institutions. discipline by discipline basis without By educating the public about course Indeed, it has become clear in reports announcing systematic changes – and cuts in the wake of the Job Ready Grad- coming from NTEU Branches that cours- thus avoiding public scrutiny. uates Package we can keep up pressure es and programs are being cut across Course reductions uncovered by the on the Government for adequate univer- the sector. However, only a handful NTEU have varied significantly in scope sity funding. ◆ of universities embarking on major by institution. Data collection is still restructuring of course delivery have underway, but from initial reports disci- officially announced significant course plines more affected appear to be Arts losses (see table).

Kieran McCarron, NTEU Policy & Research Officer

14 ADVOCATE VOL. 28 NO. 1 ◆ MARCH 2021 COVID-19 ◆

Image: Name

Known course reductions in 2021 Members' react to course cuts

ANU Some engineering majors impacted. Kim Wilder, Charles 100 courses & 115 programs to be removed. Griffith University Stuart Arts, Sciences, Commerce, Communications, Creative Industries, Business, Statistics, Sus- Amongst the many courses tainable Agriculture. slashed from Griffith University is the entire Master of Speech Curtin Courses unaffected but face to face teaching Pathology program at Nathan permanently reduced. campus. This was one of several Flinders Drama and Arts impacted. popular, innovative programs Griffith 648 courses & 5 programs to be removed designed to meet the changing needs including in Qld College of Art, Environment & of the community and workforce, which is now lost. Other Science and Allied Health. innovative and often boutique courses, which were a drawcard for the University and met specific needs, have La Trobe Arts and Education Courses affected. Languag- also been culled as they did not generate enough revenue. es cuts reversed under pressure! Yet the lack of foresight into broader considerations will Macquarie Reduced majors in Arts and fewer degree pro- have significant repercussions. grams in sciences and engineering expected. Melbourne Faculty of Arts and other 'low enrolment' cours- es affected. Liz Shaw, Monash Up to 103 courses may be ceased, and dozens Griffith University of programs incl Theatre and Music impacted. Murdoch Some Arts and Languages courses, Theology, Our comprehensive Photography Maths and Statistics impacted. degree has been reduced to major in the Visual Arts. This is Newcastle 530 courses, 26 programs to be removed. despite photography graduates Creative industries, IT, Computer Science, Fine regularly receiving international Arts, Engineering, Environment impacted. recognition. The Bachelor of Fine Art Swinburne Design and Languages programs impacted. was cancelled and re-introduced as a Bachelor of Visual Art. The Print and Jewellery & Small Sydney Music courses and programs reduced. Objects studios in Fine Art were criticised as being 'bespoke' UQ HASS restructure with course impacts expected and were proposed to be closed despite being popular, with USC STEM, Gender Studies & Biostatistics impacted. high student satisfaction and national and international recognition. The criticism of 'bespoke' worryingly suggested Some universities (SCU, UNSW, UQ) are undergoing restruc- specialist equipment was a hindrance in higher education. tures, from which course cuts are expected. At Curtin, face-to- Following a broad and sustained protest, led by students face teaching is permanently reduced. and alumni, the Print and Jewellery & Small Objects studios This list is not complete! To provide more information to the are being kept. The current students are being taught out. NTEU about course cuts at your institution please contact In two years, Print will cease to be offered at a third year Kieran McCarron [email protected] level and Jewellery & Small Objects will combine with the Sculpture Department.

ADVOCATE VOL. 28 NO. 1 ◆ MARCH 2021 15 ◆ COVID-19 Images: NTEU members socially-distance protesting at WA universities in 2020.

2020: The year the Government abandoned unis

On 16 February 2021, Prime Minister Scott Morrison, said the COVID-19 pandemic 'highlighted a vulnerability' in the business models of universities. Sorry PM, what COVID-19 and the Government’s higher education policy response exposed was a Morrison-led abandonment of public universities and policies that slashed public funding and increased student fees.

What 2020 'highlighted' is a flawed sector a paltry $80m rescue package, higher education regulatory and funding the bulk of which was to benefit private framework and a government hostile to providers with fee relief and funding for public universities. As NTEU says in our additional short courses. Public universi- 2021-22 Pre-Budget Submission, now ties were excluded from Jobkeeper while is the time for a major re-think of this private providers and overseas univer- framework. sities operating in Australia qualified for this assistance. A year of reckoning The Government chose to kick our In 2020 the Morrison Government aban- already battered and bruised public doned public universities. In the wake of universities with the introduction of its COVID-19 the Government offered the Jobs Ready Graduate (JRG) package that increases student fees and decreas- es funding to educate each govern- ment-supported student. Paul Kniest, NTEU. Director (Policy & Research)

16 ADVOCATE VOL. 28 NO. 1 ◆ MARCH 2021 COVID-19 ◆

The Government’s policy approach to for short-term courses and 'micro-cre- government supported student places higher education misunderstands the dentials' offered by universities and other allocation. unique role and responsibilities of public providers. • Phasing-out tuition fees for govern- universities. This regulatory and funding NTEU calls on the Government to ment supported students, which under framework is unsustainable and ultimate- acknowledge the importance of public the JRG will on average equate to 50% ly threatens to undermine the viability of universities and ensure the regulato- of total resourcing, up from the 20% Australia’s higher education sector. This ry framework promotes and protects when HECS was first introduced in is evidenced by the rising tide of insecure institutional autonomy and academic 1989. employment. In 2020 only one in three freedom. (35%) of all employed at public universi- University governance and ties enjoyed a secure ongoing job. Sustainable public investment executive power Now is the time to re-think higher educa- Australia has one of the lowest levels of In 2019, average remuneration for the tion policy and examine how universities public investment in tertiary education vice-chancellors of a public Australian are regulated, funded, governed and (0.7% of GDP in 2017) in the OECD (1.0% university was $991,000. This is emblem- staffed. Secure employment is critical for of GDP for OECD countries). Australian atic of the decades’ long shift in the gov- ensuring staff enjoy academic freedom students attending public universities pay ernance of public universities away from and can sustain high quality teaching and amongst the highest fees in the industri- collegial stewardship of important civic research. alised world. Consequently, the private institutions to the rise of the enterprise For a detailed analysis of the latest employ- share of investment is amongst the high- university and dominance of corporate ment data, see article on p.22. est amongst comparable industrialised governance models, which has gone hand economies. in hand with the rise of executive power. Regulation of tertiary NTEU’s analysis of JRG and the Govern- education The shift to a more corporate/managerial ment’s 2020-21 Budget papers (October approach to governance of public univer- While Australia guards the use of the 2020) not only shows that it slashes sities has been facilitated by government term university through legislation, public investment by 15% per govern- policies, including the introduction of tertiary education regulatory and funding ment-supported student, increases fees National Governance Protocols under policies in recent decades have deliber- by an average of 8% and reduces universi- Minister Nelson in 2005 and various ately tried to blur the distinction between ty resourcing to educate these students, changes to university establishing vocational education and training (VET) but that the Parliamentary Budget Office legislation which has changed the size and higher education (HE) and between (PBO) analysis shows that the value of and composition of university govern- public and private providers. government support for these students ing boards. Most of these changes have (delivered through the Commonwealth reduced staff and student representation. Two aspects of this approach concern Grants Scheme – CGS) is forecast to In addition, reduction in public funding NTEU. Firstly, the Government’s re- continually fall as a share of GDP between and increasing reliance on private sources peated attempts to deregulate higher now and 2030-31. of income has changed the nature of the education. Fortunately, they have failed governance task. to gain support in Parliament. Had they COVID-19 has exposed the over-reliance succeeded we may have seen a repeat of of universities on overseas student fee NTEU believes the evolution of the the failed policy experiment in VET that revenue (which now exceeds the value of enterprise or corporatised university is included contestable funding between CGS funding). The cuts to public funding not suited to the role public universi- public (TAFE) and private providers and embedded in JRG will increase rather than ties are expected to play in Australian income contingent loans. This policy reduce this reliance. society. This evolution has suppressed failure not only undermined public TAFEs, While NTEU acknowledges the $1billion staff, student and community roles in it witnessed widespread exploitation of boost in research support funding deliv- the decision-making processes of public students and rorting of public funding ered in the Budget, our analysis shows universities. Additionally, the elevation of through the now defunct VET-FEE HELP this sugar hit doesn’t arrest the longer- financial objectives, including a drive for scheme. For NTEU this proves the point term downward trend. efficient (low cost) delivery of teaching that education is far too important to be and research, has resulted in a greater re- left to the market. Regarding funding, NTEU makes impor- liance on insecurely employed staff. This tant recommendations including: severely compromises public universities Secondly, with government’s predilec- to act in and for the public good. tion to reduce university education to • Ongoing commitment to increase narrowly defined and standardised jobs- public investment in Australian higher NTEU calls on governments to use their ready graduates, echoes VET competen- education to 1% of GDP in line with the funding and regulatory powers to ensure cy-based training. For the Government, OECD average. universities and other higher education this has the advantage of reducing the providers develop open and transpar- • Minimising uncertainty and politici- cost of this education. Unfortunately, this ent mechanisms and structures that sation of higher education funding fails to develop students’ critical thinking incorporate staff, students and local through the establishment of an inde- and problem-solving skills central to a communities into their decision-making pendent higher education commission university education. processes, and report the total remuner- or agency with regulatory and funding ation received by vice-chancellors and The Government’s desire to increase authority. other members of the senior executive as competition and contestability as well • Negotiating Public Accountability well as the key performance indicators as narrow the scope of higher education Agreements between each university attached to those positions. ◆ is shown by recent policy initiatives to as funding and accountability mecha- recognise, promote and provide funding nisms and to better manage and plan

ADVOCATE VOL. 28 NO. 1 ◆ MARCH 2021 17 ◆ COVID-19

The art of protesting in a pandemic

COVID-19 has presented a number of challenges. As unionists and activists under these extraordinary circumstances, we have had to find new and innovative ways to work. However, when it comes to engaging in activism, perhaps the largest challenges lie in organising people face-to-face to take action in an environment where health regulations and government legislation often prevent that kind of activity occurring.

Without a doubt the biggest protests we COVID infections in Victoria, both BLM saw in 2020 in early 2021 were the Black and Invasion Day rallies nationally were Lives Matter (BLM) protests held across successfully held with absolutely no the country in June 2020, along with the community transmission of COVID-19 annual Invasion Day Rallies. recorded. At BLM in Melbourne, a good proportion of this was due to both the It needs to be noted that despite there organisers ensuring that masks and hand being a great deal of demonisation when sanitiser was available for all participants, it came to the Black Lives Matter rallies, and that they were continually reiterating particularly by the media and various social distancing requirements to the politicians who continuously wrongfully thousands of people who had attended claimed that these rallies were respon- on the day. These tactics were replicated sible for starting the second wave of across the country.

Celeste Liddle, NTEU Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Organiser

18 ADVOCATE VOL. 28 NO. 1 ◆ MARCH 2021 COVID-19 ◆

Image: Invasion Day march, Melbourne 2021. Matt Hrkac

However, Invasion Day provided new country. It needs to be noted for example actively seek to control rallies. Attendees challenges; challenges, I believe, are that in Victoria, protesters wearing masks have been arrested for merely not walk- important for other social movements to were simultaneously breaking the law ing on a footpath, or have been kettled consider when it comes to mobilising of whilst adhering to the law. because police want them to move a large crowds in protest. metre forward. The Andrews Government had passed Anyone who attended the Invasion Day legislation a couple of years ago banning Under COVID, as community surveil- rally in Melbourne this year would have the use of masks at rallies in a bid to stop lance has increased, we have seen police witnessed what was an incredible feat in protesters from hiding their identity from arrest people for merely making a dodgy organising. It is difficult to estimate for the police. Yet COVID restrictions had Facebook post, and statistics have shown sure just how large the crowd was this also made masks mandatory in environ- that of the fines handed out for perceived year, however given the fact that pre- ments where social distancing cannot non-adherence to health directives, peo- vious Invasion Day rallies in Melbourne always be adhered to. Similarly, gather- ple of colour have been disproportionate- have exceeded 50,000 participants, an ings of more than 100 people outdoors ly represented. assumption can be made that crowd sizes were banned, hence why marshals went When it comes to protecting our jobs, were again similar to this. to great lengths to separate the crowd our industry, and our rights at work, we into groups of 100 and then keep them Not only were participants organised will need to mobilise because shows of distanced from each other. into groups of 100 people and kept 10m strength in numbers are more important apart to ensure risks of COVID trans- Unions and our peak bodies need to start than ever. However we need to mobilise mission were minimised, but with very considering this because in 2021 mass in ways that ensure member safety and few exceptions everyone in the crowd mobilisations to protest governmen- more broadly, community safety. was wearing a mask and observed social tal policies are going to be incredibly Employing tactics which both demon- distancing health regulations. In addition important, particularly in an environment strate just how large the opposition is to this, marshals ensured the crowd was where 13% of university staff have lost to these continual attacks on higher kept moving. their jobs and the sector continues to be education and workers’ rights, such increasingly casualised. Stages were set up at various intervals as socially distanced pickets, grouped throughout the rally so that whilst partic- Along with the struggles we’re facing mass marches, online protest activity, ipants were moving past, they were able within the higher education industry, an- and so forth will be incredibly important to hear speeches and engage with the ti-worker legislation such as the omnibus throughout this year. calls for justice and solidarity. bill, along with rising levels of unemploy- As we go into Round 8 bargaining, we can ment with concurrent cuts to JobKeeper Given the unique circumstances of the also expect that there will be a need to and JobSeeker allowances mean we’ve Melbourne Invasion Day rally, some mobilise members as University man- got more to fight back against this year. lessons on how to do things better under agement play hardball whilst blaming We will need to take to the streets to similar restrictions can be learnt. It pro- governmental legislation. Our strength continue fighting these relentless attacks vided an important blueprint for how the will be in numbers so most importantly, from our government. organising of mass mobilisations needs ensure your colleagues are aware of the to occur under situations where we’re However, we also need to be wary of union and the measures we are taking to putting public health at the forefront of increasing police powers as a tactic by fight these continual attacks. ◆ our actions whilst also grappling with governments to contain this pandemic. increasing policing powers across the Though it’s nothing new, in Sydney police

ADVOCATE VOL. 28 NO. 1 ◆ MARCH 2021 19 ◆ GOVERNANCE Image: chombosan/123rf

Crowd-sourcing research for better uni governance

Australia's tertiary sector is in crisis. Far from being sudden and unexpected, this is a crisis that has been a long time in the making. As many of us are painfully aware, the COVID pandemic has exposed deep structural flaws in how the sector has been governed for decades.

Alessandro Pelizzon, Adam Lucas, University of Wollongong Southern Cross University Adam Lucas is a senior lecturer in science Alessandro Pelizzon is a senior lecturer in law and technology studies, and a member of and member of APU. BUG and APU.

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Over the last 30 years Australia’s public Instances of mismanagement, malfea- Several dozen colleagues are now work- universities have been transformed into sance, nepotism, incompetence, cor- ing with us to undertake this research. revenue-generating entities that have ruption and fraud rarely become public, We would like to invite anyone who is lost sight of what the law and most and are dealt with ‘in-house’, with all the interested in participating to join us in reasonable people agree to be their core ethical and legal quandaries that such a exploring the finances and governance of mission: to educate and train students for culture engenders. their own institutions. We are hoping to the complex challenges currently facing map the anomalies in expenditure across Academics for Public Universities (APU) the world, and to conduct research that the entire sector in order to demonstrate is a research think-tank comprised of contributes to improving society and just how profligate has been much of this concerned academics from multiple uni- advancing knowledge and understanding. public expenditure. versities who wish to study, understand, Emblematic of this distortion of priorities and ultimately oppose these regressive The statistical data we are using is being is the fact that more than half of the peo- trends. We are developing a range of drawn from the annual reports of home ple employed in the tertiary sector have strategies to examine and confront the institutions. We are mapping issues such no job security. As a consequence, univer- existential crisis currently facing higher as executive and staff remuneration, sity executives in 2020 were able to im- education in Australia. Our primary goal levels of casualisation, domestic and mediately terminate the employment of is to develop crowd-sourced research international student numbers and reve- tens of thousands of our professional and and a range of derived strategies that can nue, non-teaching and research expendi- academic colleagues, both permanently raise the awareness of our colleagues, tures and revenue, levels of operating and casually employed. In addition to the students, publics and political represent- surpluses, and the financial exposure of 17,000 fulltime equivalent jobs already atives about the current state of tertiary our universities through borrowings for lost, it is estimated that another 12,000 education in Australia. capital works. to 16,000 colleagues will lose their jobs The two main areas we feel are most Our hope is to compile our research at a by the end of 2021. strategically important with regard to national level and leave it as a permanent The irony of all this is that staff and holding executives accountable for their repository on the APU website for future students are regularly subjected to a poor management and decision-making reference, elaboration and emulation. We constant churn of technocratic metrics of are university finances and governance. also propose to produce a series of pop- performance and efficiency. But if similar With these two foci in mind, we invite ular and academic articles, public reports measures are ever applied to senior man- interested colleagues to join us in an Aus- and press releases to raise public aware- agement, staff, students and the public tralia-wide research project to investigate ness and inform our ongoing campaign are never made privy to their findings. the financial situations of our tertiary for tertiary governance reform. institutions and the ways in which they The current situation can be primarily Examples of the analyses undertaken to are currently governed. attributed to the failed experiment in date by BUG, along with methodological corporatisation of Australia’s tertiary We do not accept the claim that the instructions as to how to conduct this re- education system. The financial distress ‘funding crisis’ presented by COVID search, can be found on the APU website. currently experienced throughout the justifies current policies in relation to job, We are adamant that there is no justifi- sector has made this failure starkly wage and condition cuts. Our research cation for the excessive salaries currently apparent: universities have adopted the is being undertaken with reference to enjoyed by university executives and worst aspects of corporate governance publicly available documents and data, senior managers. Nor is there any justi- but none of those elements that make and does not involve drawing on sensitive fication for terminating the employment for-profit corporations efficient, effective, or confidential material. of thousands of people who are arguably and ultimately accountable. The Better University Governance (BUG) better qualified to run our institutions The governing bodies of Australian public research action group at the University than those who currently do so. The same universities have become autocratic of Wollongong (UoW) has provided the kinds of short-sighted managerialist entities. Academics, professional staff, blueprint for our financial analysis. BUG responses that have been imposed on us students and graduates have very little members have been mapping UoW’s over the last thirty years cannot possibly input into any decision-making processes. current and past income and expenditure, get us out of this mess. ‘Consultation’ generally consists of being focusing in particular on the indefensi- We appeal to our colleagues across the told what changes will be made, and ble quadrupling of executive and senior sector to work with us in developing just there is virtually no ministerial oversight managerial salaries and the many opaque and sustainable solutions to the problems of decisions taken by university execu- areas of financial expenditure. we confront; solutions that are informed tives and approved by governing bodies. On the basis of BUG’s research, it has pro- by transparent evidence that is accounta- Conflicts of interest, lack of appropriate posed to UoW management significant ble to all. ◆ expertise, and opaque decision-making reductions in executive remuneration If you would like to join us, please con- inevitably characterise the senior man- and financial expenditure on non-core tact us directly: Alessandro Pelizzon agement of most of Australia’s public uni- university activities, demonstrating that [email protected], versities. Enabled by state and territory significant savings can be made with- Adam Lucas [email protected] legislation that privileges corporate over out any loss of jobs. Similar financial anal- APU website: publicuniversities.org tertiary experience on university govern- yses conducted by staff at the University ance bodies, they are almost completely of Sydney have already proven successful free of any constraints on how much they in enabling the prevention of planned pay their executives, how they spend involuntary redundancies there. operating surpluses, and how and when they hire and fire staff.

ADVOCATE VOL. 28 NO. 1 ◆ MARCH 2021 21 ◆ EMPLOYMENT

The changing university workforce landscape A response to regulation, funding or the emergence of the enterprise university

The very significant Based on an estimate of the total level of 222,000 in 2019 to some 228,000 in employment (about 228,000 people over 2020, an increase of 6,000 or 3%. In 2020 changes to the university recent decades) this represents 8% of all only one in three (35%) employees en- workforce landscape people employed in the sector. joyed a secure ongoing (tenurial) job, 22% were on limited term contracts and 43% has little if anything Unfortunately, UA does not breakdown were casuals. While the data shows the this data into ongoing, limited term con- to do with improving number of tenurial and limited term em- tract and casual employees. Neither does the quality of teaching, ployees increased respectively by 2,800 it expect this to be the full extent of job and 4,800, this was offset by a reduction research and community losses in the sector as the full impacts of in the number of casuals. service. COVID extend into 2021 and beyond. The NTEU estimates the reduction in the Is the increased reliance of insecure em- UA’s reported loss in revenue of $1.8 number of casual employees (even as ployment, especially amongst academic billion was less than that originally early as March, and given that most of the staff, a response to changing regulation predicted which was in the order of $3.1 lost casual jobs were likely to have been and compliance and accountability re- and $4.8 billion. This downward revi- in teaching related areas) was likely to quirements? Or reduced public invest- sion in the extent of financial losses is have been in the order of 3,000 or 5,000 ment and increased reliance on overseas consistent with reports from a number of individuals. We have to wait for the re- student fees? Or is it the enterprise universities, including Sydney, Newcastle lease of 2021 data to get the full picture. university’s business model? and Adelaide that the financial outcomes for 2020 were not as bad as originally An increasingly exposed NTEU’s 2021-21 Pre-Budget Submission expected. (see article, p.16) argues that the current and vulnerable university policy framework related to regulation, Despite its better-than-expected out- workforce funding and governance of Australia’s come Newcastle insisted that it would be Previous NTEU analysis2 showed that the public universities is in need of a major continuing to seek $35 million in savings. Australian university workforce was be- re-think. While Adelaide agreed not to proceed coming increasingly insecure, feminised with negotiated delays to pay , it was Our view is the current policy framework and specialised amongst academic staff. still proceeding with over 150 voluntary is no longer fit for purpose and threatens Unpublished data provided to the NTEU redundancies. the sustainability of our world class high- by DESE shows in terms of full-time er education sector. Cuts to public fund- In early February, Monash University an- equivalent (FTE)3 employment in 2018, ing, changes to governance structures nounced an operating surplus for 2020 of 57% were female, 53% were general/pro- and a regulatory framework that doesn’t $259 million, which was $29 million more fessional staff, 50% were ongoing secure do enough to promote and protect the than the $230 million operating surplus positions, 32% were limited term and 18% unique role played by our universities reported in 2019. Vice-chancellor Gardner casual. has resulted in the emergence of the described the 2020 result as 'a buffer for The data also shows that the proportion enterprise university where students are the future'. The question for the NTEU is of specialist academic staff (teaching-only seen as a source of revenue and universi- whether this ‘buffer’ was achieved at the and research-only) accounted for 26% of ty staff as a cost. expense of the over 200 redundancies at the total workforce which outnumbered Monash announced in 2020. State of Play – February 2021 the FTE of more traditional teaching and The changing nature of research academics (20% of total FTE). On 3 February, Universities Australia (UA) employment at Australia’s This is the inverse of the position of just a released data that showed Australian decade ago and shows a strong increase universities universities shed at least 17,300 jobs in in the use of specialised academic roles. 2020 and lost an estimated $1.8 billion in The latest Department of Education, This is also crucial because insecure revenue compared to 2019. It is under- Skills and Employment (DESE) staffing employment is very much the preferred stood the job losses included permanent data (based on data collected in March) mode of employment amongst specialist jobs as well as the non-renewal of limited shows the total number of employees at academic positions, with three quarters term and causal employees. our universities increased from about1

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TEACHING ONLY TEACHING & RESEARCH RESEARCH ONLY PROFESSIONAL/GENERAL

ASAS IMITED TERM F TIME 6,000

5,000

4,000 OVERALL JOBS ROWTH 3,000 2,000 1,000 JOBS AINED

0 ,

-1,000 JOBS LOST

Figure 1: Growth in University FTE Staffing 2008 to 2018 by Contract of Employment, Gender and Function

(74%) of teaching-only positions being Between 2008 and 2018 academic posi- While we welcome the increased levels of casual and eight out ten (79%) of re- tions only accounted for one third (34%) female employment, the data show this is search-only positions being limited term. of all new positions, the majority (61%) largely a consequence of increased use of of which were female. In stark contrast general/professional staffing resources. Changing landscape to general/professional employment, The increasing use of insecurely em- four out of ten academic positions (41%) Figure 1 shows changes to university ployed academic staff seems to be a were casual and less than one in three FTE workforce between 2008 and 2018. consequence of the increase in use of (31%) of all new academic positions were The emerging picture is not only one of specialist (teaching-only and research- tenurial. increasing feminisation and insecurity but only) academic roles. The question is also a distinct difference in the pattern of The data also shows that the majority of what is driving these changes – is it employment practices between general/ new casual academic positions were in regulation, funding or internal university professional and academic staff. teaching-only roles and that the use of governance? Whatever the answer, the Of the almost 30,000 new FTE positions limited term contracts is concentrated NTEU believes each of these aspects created between 2008 and 2018, two out in research-only positions. While there needs a major rethink. ◆ of three (66%) were general/professional were an additional 1,140 tenured female Paul Kniest, Director (Policy & positions, 69% of which went to females. teaching and research academic posi- Research), NTEU National Office Only 15% of these new general/profes- tions, this only represented 4% of all new sional FTE positions were casual with jobs between 2008 and 2018. 1. DESE does not collect or publish data on the number (headcount) of casuals employed by our another 44% being limited term, with This was also offset by the loss of 350 universities. The NTEU estimates that the number 41% being secure tenurial positions. tenured male teaching and research FTE of casuals is estimated as Casual FTE x 4. over the same period. In other words, 2. NTEU (2018). The Flood of Insecure Employment at This large increase in general/profes- Australian Universities (https://www.nteu.org.au/ sional staffing resources can only be tenured academic positions accounted for library/view/id/8988) explained by a change in the relative fewer than three out every 100 new FTE. 3. There is no officially published reliable estimate of the number of casual in each of these categories. importance of administrative and mana- Conclusion gerial functions relative to core academic (teaching and research) responsibilities. There is no evidence to suggest that the very significant change to the landscape This might be explained by higher compli- of Australia's university workforce over ance and/or accountability requirements the last decades has anything to do with or it might be associated with elevation improving the quality of core teaching of administrative and managerial roles in and research functions. the enterprise university.

ADVOCATE VOL. 28 NO. 1 ◆ MARCH 2021 23 ◆ ACADEMIC FREEDOM

Academic freedom and (free?) speech

After two reviews into academic freedom, the Government is seeking to change its definition in law. Yet NTEU believes that the only way to guarantee individual rights is through strong clauses within Enterprise Agreements.

French Review code which would clarify the importance of academic freedom in the plethora In November 2018, the then Minister for of university polices, such as codes of Education, Dan Tehan, announced that conduct, that weaken the application of the Hon Robert French, former Chief Jus- academic freedom. tice of the High Court, would undertake an independent review into freedom of Walker Review speech in higher education. At the end of 2019, all Australian universi- While Justice French’s very comprehen- ties agreed that within a year they would sive review published in March 2019 implement ‘the French Code’. Apparently, concluded that there was no crisis in free unhappy with progress, in August 2020 speech at Australian universities, he did Minister Tehan asked Emeritus Professor nonetheless make a number of impor- Sally Walker AM to review the implemen- tant recommendations including some tation of a Model Code which universities changes to the current wording of the had agreed to by the end of 2020. academic freedom provisions in the High- Professor Walker’s report, published in er Education Support Act 2003, and that December 2020, finds that a considera- universities adopt a voluntary umbrella

Paul Kniest, NTEU Kelly Thomas, NTEU Director (Policy & Research) Senior Legal Officer

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Image: DB King

ble amount of work remains in aligning limitations that are not included in the While the adoption of French/Walker university policies and codes with the code such as limiting it to a person’s recommendations would go a long way French model code on academic freedom area of expertise or within standards of to clarifying the primacy of academic and free speech. scholarship. freedom and free speech within our universities and limit universities’ ability The report shows that while 33 universi- • Where universities have policies, to constrain or limit their exercise, NTEU ties had claimed to have completed the code or procedures (including codes still believes that the only way to guaran- implementation of the Code, only nine of conduct) that leave room for the tee individual staff members’ academic could be considered to be fully aligned. exercise of administrative discretion freedom rights is through strong clauses or evaluative judgments that could From the NTEU’s perspective, the Walker within Enterprise Agreements. limit freedom of speech or academic Review not only revealed universities freedom, that these policies should In the Anderson case, the University of tardiness in dealing with the implemen- be amended to make it clear that the Sydney itself argued that its Enterprise tation of ‘the Code’ but perhaps more power or discretion must be exercised Agreement did not create enforceable importantly, university managements in accordance with the university’s rights. Australia’s oldest institution told that are more concerned with protecting academic freedom or free speech policy the Federal Court that it did not want its an institution’s reputation than they are or code. She makes it clear that it is academics to have rights. in upholding academic freedom, one of simply not good enough to say the po- the essential characteristics which differ- Academic freedom also remains a key lices need to be ‘read with’ or ‘subject entiates universities from other types of issue being litigated in Australia’s highest to’ the code. education providers. courts. In February 2021, the High Court granted Peter Ridd special leave for his This hostile attitude to academic freedom Protecting uni staff case to be heard and determined by the is no more clearly demonstrated than in However, this does not go far enough High Court. That will proceed later in the two recent court cases involving: Profes- to ensure that university workers are year and will provide one of the first High sor Peter Ridd and James Cook University; protected from administrative overreach. Court decisions on the issue of academic and Tim Anderson and University of Syd- Without a clear, readily enforceable right freedom. ney. In both these cases the court found to exercise academic freedom and the that the universities' code of conduct ability to seek a remedy if it is breached In addition, NTEU has lodged an appeal provided the universities with the power by the university, it might as well cut in the Full Court of the Federal Court to to discipline the academics, despite their the pretence and stop calling itself a defend the intellectual freedom clause claims of academic freedom. university. in the University of Sydney Enterprise Agreement. That case will also be heard In this regard, the NTEU is particularly At the time of writing, the Government later in 2021. welcoming of some of Professor Walker’s had (on the insistence of One Nation) findings and recommendation including introduced the Higher Education Support We will keep you informed of these im- that: Amendment (Freedom of Speech) Bill portant cases. • All universities adopt an overarching 2020 into Parliament. When passed, This must be a call to action. NTEU single policy or code that deals with this Bill will amend the Higher Education commits to making academic freedom a academic freedom and free speech. Support Act 2003 to incorporate part of central issue in Round 8 bargaining, but it French’s recommended wording chang- is up to all of our members to start to talk • Universities should remove from es including his proposed definition of about the issue. ◆ definitions of academic freedom academic freedom.

ADVOCATE VOL. 28 NO. 1 ◆ MARCH 2021 25 ◆ INTERNATIONAL Image: Professor Pal Ahluwalia. FijiVillage/YouTube

Fiji's deportation of USP VC is a shameful act

The shocking deportation of the University of the South Pacific (USP) Vice-Chancellor, Professor Pal Ahluwalia, and his wife, Sandra Price, is a highly shameful event — in not just the history of the institution, but also in the history of Fiji and the region.

The heavy-handed manner in which the failure of its leadership role the region as deportation was carried out has major a whole. implications for human rights, democ- Professor Ahluwalia and his wife were racy, free speech and academic freedom taken from their home in Suva at in Fiji and the Pacific. Additionally it has midnight and put on a plane bound for serious implications for the unity of the Brisbane. Up to 15 police and immigration region and effectiveness of regional officers participated in what can only be organisations. The events reflect Fiji’s described as a raid. The couple were man- failure as USP’s host country and also a handled and even refused a toilet break.

Professor Biman C Prasad Leader of the National Federation Party Adjunct Professor, James Cook University Adjunct Professor, Punjabi University Patiala

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The Government claimed that the VC’s work visa and contract were nullified as a result of the deportation, even though it is the USP Council which hires or fires the VC. This is a naked attempt by the Fiji government to usurp the authority of the Council and to impose its will on the USP, its staff and its students – at any cost. The strong armed, thuggish tactics is unbecoming of a government that claims to have brought ‘true’ democracy in Fiji’s history, but more indicative of a military dictatorship. It is an act of aggression by a member state against the region’s highest academic office – the office of Vice-Chan- cellor of USP, and shows total disrespect of the rights of the member states of USP. While the official reason offered for the deportation was that Professor Ahlu- walia’s conduct was ‘prejudicial to peace, defence and public safety, it is common Professor Pal Ahluwalia, and his wife, Sandra Price, being deported from Fiji on 3 Feb. NZ Herald knowledge that Professor Ahluwalia has been targeted for blowing the whistle on USP staff unions and student associations More seriously, it threatens the future widespread mismanagement at the insti- that have been vocal in the public arena. of the country’s youth and their right to tution, under the previous Vice-Chancel- education. It shows that the Govern- For many, the deportation is highly lor, Professor Rajesh Chandra, who was ment is a poor custodian of public funds. questionable from a legal standpoint, seen to be close to the Government. The Parliament was of no help either, with the besides a flagrant abuse of power by a deportation comes after a failed attempt opposition’s attempt to bring up the mat- government that clearly thinks that it by the Fiji Government’s USP representa- ter in the house ruled out by the Speaker can trample on the human rights of USP tive to suspend Ahluwalia. on the grounds that it was not a matter employees with impunity. The losses under Rajesh Chandra ran into of national importance. This decision only the millions of dollars, as articulated in This is clearly reflected in the media served to strengthen suspicions about the BDO special audit report, which was comments of the Attorney-General Aiyaz the Speaker’s impartiality. Sayed-Khaiyum, who made light of the leaked to the media and was a source of USP staff and students, civil society, and home invasion, abduction and deporta- embarrassment for a government that all persons of integrity must stand up to tion of the VC and his wife in the media. claimed to be cleaning up corruption. The this gross violation of human rights and Sayed-Khaiyum claimed that there is ‘no chairman of the USP Council, Mr Winston the total disrespect shown to USP Coun- crisis, no saga’ at USP. He stated that Thomson, and others implicated in the cil processes, and legal precedents. It is there was ‘very bad governance ‘under VC scandal, may have had a hand in the critically important that the USP unions Ahluwalia, while totally ignoring the gross deportation. keep actively engaged with the public and abuses highlighted in the BDO report. In a media interview, Mr Thomson played workers to keep them informed about the down the biggest financial scandal in Most respected observers reject truth. Sayed-Khaiyum’s ‘no saga, no crisis’ USP’s history while openly stating that he The future of the regional university now claim. They describe the situation as the would sack Professor Ahluwalia if he had rests with the firm action of the USP biggest crisis in the USP’s 50-year history the power to do so. Since then Professor council including major donors Australia and state that the scale of the damage Ahluwalia has been the subject of a witch and New Zealand to uphold the inde- to USP is enormous and unprecedented, hunt. pendence of the University’s governance with severe, longer-term implications for body. Fiji on its part must stop its inter- This government’s unilateral decision regional unity, academic freedom, respect ference in the University and pay its grant and ongoing actions undermine USP's for human rights and the rule of law. regional character and it is the most se- to the University and allow the council rious attack on academic freedom in the Since last year Sayed-Khaiyum, as the decisions to be upheld. ◆ regional institution’s history. In the days economy minister, withheld Fiji’s $27 mil- after the deportation, police were seen on lion allocation to USP, but there has been campus in what was regarded as an act of no protest from the Education Minister, intimidation. Rosy Akbar. The $27 million is taxpayer money for the education of Fiji’s youth The Government’s actions, which strike that was approved by parliament. at the heart of democracy and free expression, are bound to have a chill- There are legal questions if the Attor- ing effect on both local and expatriate ney-General can legally circumvent a academics. Indeed, the reaction from the parliamentary decision unilaterally. The USP academics has been muted for fear decision to withhold funds is tantamount of suffering a similar fate. It’s mostly the to the blackmail of the USP Council.

ADVOCATE VOL. 28 NO. 1 ◆ MARCH 2021 27 ◆ INTERNATIONAL

Turkish students fight for autonomy and democracy

Millennial and Gen Z students at Istanbul's Boğaziçi University are writing history, not only by resisting heavy-handed police violence, mass detentions, and arrests for defending democratic rights in Turkey, but also for showing how to do it in style.

Gallup conducted a study among Most of its students are among the top Millennials in 2016 and concluded that 1,000 students entering the universi- 'Millennials will decisively change the ty exam each year, where around two world more than any other generation.' million students compete. Its graduates These tech-savvy generations take active serve significant senior roles across in- roles in recent global pro-democracy dustries; for example, 60% of the top 500 demonstrations, ranging from Hong Kong companies’ senior managers are alumni of to Thailand. Recently, Myanmar (after the university. the coup) and Turkish youth joined their These students found plagiarism in his peers’ ranks. doctoral dissertation and essays in the Why are students protesting? first week of his illegitimate appointment. Students have been exercising various Boğaziçi University students have been in peaceful protests every day and inviting demonstrations since 4 January 2021 due the appointed rector to resign during to a trustee (in Turkish 'Kayyum,' referring the past month, parallel to the Boğaziçi to an unelected political appointee) University academicians’ protests. rector’s appointment, a businessman and member of the ruling conservative AK Its graduates support them. A survey Party. My alma mater, Boğaziçi University, among the university alumni points out established in 1863, is one of Turkey’s that 99% of them favour elected rectors, most prestigious universities. and another survey shows that 70% of citizens reject the idea of a political per- son’s appointment. The demonstrations have spread widely Prof. Dilek Cetindamar, across many Turkish universities, becom- University of Technology, Sydney ing a demand for the 'Autonomous and Democratic University' movement.

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Image: Police clash with student protesters at Boğaziçi University. ahvalnews.com

Students have been exercising their • Rectors' elections should be held with institutions, including universities, for the constitutional rights of free speech, while the participation of all components of past 19 years. According to the Academ- the Government’s answer so far has been the universities! ic Freedom Index, Turkey ranks 135th heavy-handed police violence, mass among 144 countries in 2020. • The freedom of expression of students detentions, and arrests. Around 600 stu- exercising their constitutional rights be The Boğaziçi University students are dents have been detained, nine have been guaranteed, and all forms of discrimi- aware that tomorrow is possible with sci- arrested, and more than 25 have been put nation be ended! entific, secular, and independent univer- into house-arrests. sities, and hence they are wholeheartedly The Boğaziçi University students use Additionally, the Turkish Government has engaged with their ideals. They strongly social media effectively, producing slo- been attempting to discredit student pro- exist in the 'real world' for their future as gans, launching impressive videos, online tests by calling them elitist, terrorist, and any other generation in history. broadcasting of protests, and Twitter foreign forces’ prawns. Some government campaigns that reach international audi- Interestingly enough, they own the officials and followers of the ruling party ences. They rapidly organise open demo- universal university principles that go put forward grievous threats to students, cratic platforms and communicate their back to 1830 by Wilhelm von Humboldt, inciting hatred with homophobic com- messages effectively. They always come founder of the University of Berlin. As he ments and discriminating against LGBT up with something new and attractive for highlighted: Academic activity should be student groups. their generation, such as running a song protected from government control and Students get creative competition for their protests. interference. In response to these assaults, students Flow on effect Universities cannot exist without do not give up, and they do stand up for freedom of education and autonomy of Their protests have rippled through their future. They do not fall into prov- academia, hence Turkish Millennials and other universities across the country. ocation while insisting on their demand Gen Z stand up for their future. Even They have received endorsements from and responding with humorous language. though they diverge according to their Turkish writers, artists, and journalists. political views, religious beliefs, or sexual Contrary to their image living in the virtu- Numerous high school and university stu- preferences, they are at peace with all al world, they are out there on their cam- dent clubs use their names and declare these differences and demand democrat- puses and organise numerous creative endorsements or open letters. ic rights for all. protests every day. They even declared In addition, almost 5,000 academics an open letter to the President, who tar- Their straightforward and heartfelt worldwide (including Prof. Noam Chom- geted them for not being courageous, and actions establish a throne in millions’ sky) and well-established institutions they insisted on proclaiming their simple hearts. That is why the general public such as Scholars at Risk and Academ- and straightforward demands: care for Boğaziçi University students. ic Solidarity Network are among the For example, they support students by • All students detained, under house-ar- Boğaziçi declaration signatories. banging pots and pans at night. rest, and arrested should be immedi- The high popularity of this autonomous ately released! Time will tell about the outcome, but and independent university movement history books will write their special • The police blockading universities must comes from the fact that Turkish stu- touch on their fight for academic freedom withdraw from all campuses! dents are aware that they will lose their in Turkey. ◆ future to the ruling government’s con- • All trustee rectors, including Boğaziçi's servative agenda if they lose universities. rector, should resign immediately! Turkey has faced the decay of its secular

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Can Biden's plan for 'Education Beyond High School' solve the student loan crisis?

In the race for the US Presidency, former Vice- President (and now President) Joe Biden put forward a higher education policy platform focused on community colleges, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority-Serving Institutions. In addition to increasing investment in these colleges and institutions, his plan would make tuition debt free for those who attend two years of community college or high-quality training programs, and it involves some limited debt forgiveness. Currently budgeted to cost approximately US$750 billion, the plan would be paid for by increas- ing taxes on the super wealthy and eliminating what the Biden campaign had called tax ‘loopholes’.

Dr Terri MacDonald, NTEU Policy & Research Officer

30 ADVOCATE VOL. 28 NO. 1 ◆ MARCH 2021 INTERNATIONAL ◆

Biden’s 'beyond high school’ policy Biden’s plan goes some of the way to er-income households are more likely to continues the higher education approach addressing this issue, proposing to attend college in the first place, which under President Obama. That said, the forgive outstanding student debt for skews the figures. now First Lady, Dr Jill Biden, undoubted- those who have regularly paid it back for A more useful indicator is to look at the ly has had some influence in its revival 20 years. Those working jobs in 'national overall data for those who attend college, under her husband’s presidency; she has or community service' like teaching or which shows that Black and African worked at community colleges for over non-profits, would also receive $10,000 American college graduates owe an aver- 30 years and is currently teaching at student debt relief annually, for up to five age of $25,000 more in student loan debt Northern Virginia Community College. years for each year that they stay in that than their White counterparts. vocational job. The question is, will this be enough? Despite the evidence contradicting his Supporters of Biden’s proposed plan Reminiscent of Australia’s HECS-HELP stance, Biden refuses to change his argue that two free years of community scheme, Biden’s scheme would see loan position, arguing that the extra funds college would cut four year education repayments become income contingent, involved in increasing the loan forgive- rates in half, since students could transfer with people making more than $25,000 ness could be better used 'to provide for their credits to complete their college annually expected to contribute 5 per early education for young children that education. cent of their discretionary income toward come from disadvantaged circumstances'. their loan – half of the current 10 per There are other aspects to the policy that He has also claimed that the powers of cent cap. Those who make $25,000 or would appeal to supporters of progres- executive action are limited. less would not be expected to pay back sive politics. For example, the plan would the government and would not accrue Regardless, the pressure for more action see DREAMers – young undocumented interest. on student loan debt in particular is build- immigrants who came to the US as ing. In one of the latest developments, a children – be eligible to receive a free Calls to go further multi-state group of Attorneys-General two-year education, as well as finan- have written to Congress, urging the cial aid, based on requirements already Despite these measures, many – includ- adoption of two resolutions that call on established under existing financial aid ing Democrats – have criticised Biden’s Biden to cancel up to US$50,000 in feder- eligibility. plan for not going far enough in dealing with the student loan debt crisis. Recent- al student loan debt. Yet, Biden’s policy falls short of proposals ly, both House and Senate Democrats According to media reports, the letter from more progressive democrats – Eliz- urged President Biden to 'broadly' forgive states that many borrowers, struggling abeth Warren and Bernie Sanders both up to US$50,000 of federal debt through with student loan debt, are victims of proposed four years of free community executive order. Indeed, Senate majority mercenary for-profit colleges, and have and public college tuition and, impor- leader Chuck Schumer has repeatedly been severely impacted by the COVID-19 tantly, forgiving most, if not all, existing said Biden should take this major step pandemic. The authors also note there student debt. during his first 100 days in office. are few options for debt relief if the The weight of student loan However, Biden has refused and even burden becomes unmanageable. Student debt pushed back against his own party — loan debt generally cannot be discharged repeating he will only support up to in bankruptcy, and few people have Student loan debt is a major economic, $10,000 of debt forgiveness and would been able to get relief through current social and equity issue for the US. In a prefer Congress to craft the legislation in programs such as Public Service Loan country that remains politically divided support of his plan. Forgiveness. over most things – including universal health care – the idea of ‘free education’ He gives a number of reasons for his re- Noting the racial disparity in levels of is similarly fraught. Many argue that fusal, but primarily argues that forgiving debt, the authors of the letter have also to forgive debt now is unfair for those US$50,000 in student debt would dispro- pointed out that forgiving $50,000 in who have paid back their student loans. portionately benefit students who go to student loan debt could help close some Regardless, the national debt for student 'elite' private colleges. of the racial wealth gap. loans is immense – in 2020, it was about The problem is that his argument doesn’t How Biden responds to the growing pres- US$1.56 trillion, and is effectively a stack up – the US Department of Edu- sure will no doubt set the tone for many national crisis across all ages and demo- cation’s college scorecard tool shows of the other major economic and public graphics. that only 3% of Harvard students take policy problems currently facing the US The statistics reveal the extent of the out federal student loans and, among – many of which have been amplified by problem – according to the Federal these students, the median amount owed COVID. Biden’s current policy platform Reserve, there are some 45 million at graduation is between $9,464 and takes much from the Obama era – which borrowers who collectively owe the $25,714 – significantly lower than the was ineffective in dealing with the issue nearly US$1.6 trillion in student loan average student loan debt of US$32,731. of student loan debt, and in improving debt. The average student loan debt is equity and access to post-secondary Although it is correct to say that student education. now US$32,731, which is an increase of loan debt shows higher-income individ- approximately 20% from 2015-2016. Most uals are more likely to have such debt Clearly, there are many that want more borrowers have between US$25,000 (Federal Reserve data shows that the direct and extreme action to be taken – and US$50,000 outstanding in student highest-income 40 per cent of house- whether they have a President willing to loan debt, making it the second highest holds owe almost 60 per cent of the do that is far from certain. ◆ consumer debt category – behind only outstanding education debt and make mortgage debt – and higher than both almost three-quarters of the payments), credit card and auto loan debt. the reality is that students from high-

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viding education services. This situation Education unions defend leads to issues such as surveillance of classrooms and a drastic reduction in the & promote academic number of teachers, he said. Union action able to safeguard freedom around the world academic freedom in Ghana In Ghana, there is academic freedom and Academic freedom is in a dire expressed pro-integration views. They freedom of association, and students state globally, according to had to resort to action, like the Alabama can study whatever they want to study, attendees at the recent Inter- sit-ins in February 1960. stressed Charles Ofosu Marfo, President national Further and Higher of the University Teachers Association of Level of academic freedom Ghana (UTAG). However, the Government Education and Research Con- dependent on government tried to pass legislation that would have ference (IFHERC). Organised allowed it to interfere in universities' virtually by Education Interna- Suat Yan Lai, of the Malaysian Academic Movement (MOVE), said that academic operations. Through strike and diverse tional (EI), the conference also freedom in the Asia-Pacific region de- actions, UTAG was able to force the Gov- expressed its solidarity with pends on a country's type of government, ernment to respect academic freedom harassed and imprisoned aca- be it a democracy or an authoritarian re- and abandon the bill. demics worldwide, especially gime. In Malaysia, education unions have This respect for academic freedom and in Myanmar and Hong Kong. joined NGOs to push back the declaration basic human and trade union rights does of state of emergency made by the gov- On the last day of the conference on 10 not exist in Eastern Africa, in countries ernment during the COVID-19 outbreak, February, panellists from different EI like Sudan, Uganda, and Cameroon, he in reality an attempt to stay in power. regions highlighted the experiences and added, where it is safer to be cautious MOVE has had the support of colleagues challenges of higher education staff and and not oppose the government views in from the NTEU and Canadian Association institutions in their respective countries order to avoid harassment and trouble. of University Teachers (CAUT). and regions. 'With the COVID-19 pandemic, we expe- In Hong Kong, she said, imprisonment Corporate voices edge out rience many challenges to teaching, in is the sanction for those exerting their Ghana and throughout Africa,' he insisted. academics freedom of speech. The Beijing-imposed 'With no proper equipment, unstable Annette Dolan, Teachers' Union of National Security Law is vague, outlawing electricity and Internet connection, we Ireland (TUI) Deputy General Secretary, secession, subversion, 'terrorism', and cannot provide quality education online.' underlined the importance of academ- 'collusion with foreign forces', and forbid- Solidarity with Myanmar & HK ic freedom for scientific progress, the ding people from 'inciting hatred against pursuit of truth, research, collaboration the central and Hong Kong government'. In her concluding remarks, EI Deputy among academics, and quality higher Academic freedom in Colombia General Secretary, Haldis Holst, men- education. The COVID-19 pandemic had tioned the 'thought-provoking' research clearly demonstrated the importance Pedro Hernández, President of the Asoci- by Anna Hogan and Ben Williamson, Pan- of safeguarding academic freedom as ación Sindical de Profesores Universitar- demic Privatisation in Higher Education: academics have played a major role in ios (ASPU) in Colombia, one of the most Edtech & University Reform. 'We need addressing a wide range of responses to dangerous countries for academics, men- to decide on how we, as the educators, the crisis. However, serious violations tioned how the report by the UN Special should move forward to ensure that ed- of academic freedom and institutional Rapporteur for Freedom of Opinion and tech is led by our profession,' she said. autonomy are on the rise. Expression, Irene Khan, acknowledged the special role played by academics and Holst further said that 'recent cases There is a concern in Ireland, as in academic institutions in democratic soci- in Hong Kong and Myanmar show that many other countries, which researcher ety. Without academic freedom, societies repressive regimes won’t let go of a Michael Shattock refers to as the rise of lose one of the essential elements of chance to accuse academics and teachers the managerial class in higher education democratic self-governance. to ‘influence’ their students’ minds with institutions, where the academic voice is liberal/progressive ideas'. Also, in Turkey, marginalised, as the voice of corporate For him, academic freedom means institutional nominations have been culture replaces the collegial academic freedom of speech, freedom of critical re- bypassed by direct appointments and/or one in university governance. search, critical thinking. And 'members of dismissals directly from the President. academic institutions must be protected Segregation a historical threat from military bullets'. He insisted that, Holst adjourned the meeting by calling to academic freedom in Latin America, in the higher educa- for support for democracy in Myanmar tion sector, there is another pandemic, and Hong Kong. In support, participants Derryn Moten from the American turned on their cameras and held up Federation of Teachers’ (AFT) explained linked to the COVID-19 one: precarious conditions for academics. 'We need more three fingers – a sign of solidarity in the that attacks on academic freedom are protests in Myanmar. ◆ not new. In the US in the 50s and 60s, respect for higher education institutions academics and students were threatened for more democracy,' he stressed. Education International with non-renewal of contracts or removal He also warned about the increasing Watch the presentation of the full EI of their teaching certificates if they power of transnational organisations pro- report here: nteu.info/ei2021

32 ADVOCATE VOL. 28 NO. 1 ◆ MARCH 2021 DELEGATE PROFILE ◆

Patrick Hampton Senior Lecturer, University of Notre Dame Australia

I first became a member of the NTEU follow- ing a ‘door stop’ conversation with the UNDA Branch Organiser. Having been a member of the State School Teachers’ Union when I worked in WA public schools, I had always intended to join the NTEU when I began in the School of Education in Fremantle but had never had the serious conversation until then. I later became the NTEU Representative on the campus Workplace Health & Safety (WHS) Committee. NTEU members had played a key role in campaigning on WHS issues at UNDA, including the establishment of the WHS Committee and the development of the WHS Policies and Procedures for the Univer- sity. Ongoing issues with WHS brought about an ever widening range of conversations about other issues in the workplace and soon after I became the delegate for the School of Education and a member of the UNDA Branch Committee. Challenges ahead Our current situation There has been a fundamental shift in the culture of the staff at Notre Dame faced significant financial challenges in 2020 how- UNDA in the last 12 months. I believe we’re yet to reach the nadir ever staff were informed this was not primarily due to COVID-19 in relations between staff and University management with a or the income lost to international enrolments. The University recent announcement that further cuts to staffing are required. management responded quickly with an organisational restruc- The Branch has a critical role in supporting members through ture, establishing a new University Executive and operating this process at this critical time for the higher education sector. structure, which included swift action to achieve significant Many of the concerns raised in conversations with staff at UNDA recurrent salary savings. As is the case with most restructures, are echoed in the 2020 NTEU State of the Uni Survey. the professional and academic staff not responsible for the fi- nancial unsustainability of the ‘business’ have borne most of the In addition to campaigning for genuine consultation about consequences at UNDA – workplace uncertainty, job losses and workplace change and reducing staffing cuts, our Branch is also diminished work conditions. working for the fair resourcing of the higher education priorities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff and students; rais- Anecdotally, nearly 200 staff have left UNDA due to voluntary ing staff superannuation to industry standard; and, addressing redundancy, early retirement, and sadly forced redundancies. alarming rates of staff casualisation. Consequently, in 2021 many work areas find they are operating with reduced staff and ‘responsibility creep’ is the new normal The NTEU Branch recognises casual staff as some of the most where continuing staff are asked to assume additional roles. vulnerable in our workplace and has a significant challenge campaigning to support them against exploitation. Participa- Every campaign is an opportunity tion in the NTEU Bargaining Conference last December was an opportunity for us to see the potential for a UNDA campaign that It was only following campaigning by the NTEU Branch Com- makes a real difference for staff and students. mittee and the unity of members that University management have implemented processes whereby staff are informed about Becoming active in the NTEU the decisions impacting their work. True consultation remains elusive – despite existing structures being available for this very Anyone who is not currently active in the NTEU only needs to purpose. There is now a growing solidarity amongst many UNDA look at the current higher education sector to gauge where staff as they see so much of the University community dramati- things would be without active members. Now more than ever, cally changing. the most important thing for all Universities is that there are NTEU members available to have those serious conversations This solidarity is extending to conversations with other NTEU with staff to encourage them and to support them. We have a Branches and it has been great to work with other delegates and by-line in our work area …'Stay Informed, Seek Support, Support NTEU officers to help us to develop suitable action. I would rec- Others!' because when management stop listening, it’s impor- ommend these conversations to any delegate in these difficult tant that union members keep talking. ◆ times – collectively, there is an incredibly deep understanding of the complex higher education industrial agenda if you aren’t Find out more at nteu.org.au/delegates afraid to ask.

ADVOCATE VOL. 28 NO. 1 ◆ MARCH 2021 33 ◆ DELEGATE PROFILE

Brian Pulling PhD candidate, University of South Australia

I am a PhD candidate at the University of South Australia, studying persistent pain. My primary goal is to create tools that help researchers and clinicians better understand the experience of people with pain. Joining the Union seemed obvious to me. I’m originally from the United States, so I’m in Australia on a student visa. There are profound problems with the American higher education system, too numerous to detail here. Suffice to say that in my experience, Australian higher education is extraordinary in many important ways. That said, there are worrying trends and very recent and unresolved injustices facing university staff and students alike. I am a firm believer that we cannot take our fortunate circumstances for granted. In my view, union member- ship means speaking out and standing up against inequities. The word 'unprecedented' has come up too frequently in the last 12 months. We are all learning that we cannot merely 'ride-out' There are specific issues that are at the forefront of my mind. the pandemic, and that large-scale adaptations are required if I am extremely concerned about the manipulation and mis- university education and research are going to survive. treatment of international students who flock to Australian In my limited experience, the NTEU is unique in that it repre- universities in pursuit of otherwise impossible dreams. Funding sents all levels of university staff, from tenured professors, to for research is delayed and insufficient, with resources being part-time lecturers, all the way down the hierarchical order to wasted because of short-sighted, self-interested intermediaries, post-grad students. This presents a phenomenal opportunity to and expectations that prevent adequate translation of research fight effectively for equitable working conditions and protec- to those who stand to benefit most from the findings. tions for workers regardless of stature. And of course, casual contracts are inconsistent and too often As a PhD candidate just starting my professional journey in aca- insufficient, putting increased burden on full-time staff, with a demia, I can see clearly that the challenges facing academics are direct negative impact on students. not going away. We will continue to fight against funding cuts, Someone recently asked me why they should join the NTEU. misinformation, and even corruption in our own institutions. Unions, by definition bring workers together to protect the Too much will be asked of our staff and students, and we will integrity of their work. I feel strongly that our work is valuable rely more on the compassion of our colleagues in an increasingly and worth protecting. ◆ uncertain world. The weight of this challenge would crush any individual trying to carry it alone. The NTEU has the unique Find out more at nteu.org.au/delegates capacity to bring us together to share that challenge. As an NTEU delegate, I hope to be a resource to my colleagues. My experience is of course biased and limited, but my first priority is that I use my voice and privilege to amplify the issues of others.

NATIONAL TERTIARY EDUCATION UNION Delegates Delegates are a vital part of the NTEU, maintaining visibility, Become an NTEU supporting recruitment & building the strength of the Union. Delegate! If you’re interested in becoming DELEGATES.NTEU.ORG.AU a Delegate in your work area, contact your Branch today.

34 ADVOCATE VOL. 28 NO. 1 ◆ MARCH 2021 MY UNION ◆

Good outcomes are unlikely to be achieved just by the force Gearing up for the of argument across the negotiating table. It needs to be sup- ported by as many staff as possible demonstrating to man- next bargaining agement that there is widespread support for our claims. Political campaign adds another dimension round Following the harrowing experiences of universities dealing with the COVID-19 crisis in the wake of an uncaring Federal Government, National Councillors agreed on the need for NTEU National Councillors met online in an ongoing political campaign integrated with bargaining, December 2020 for a Bargaining Confer- to achieve NTEU’s vision for a higher education sector ence and Special National Council, to start embedding equity of access, quality education and research preparations for the next round of enterprise outcomes, and protecting academic freedom. bargaining. The Morrison Government repeatedly blocked universities This next round will commence in the first half of this year from accessing JobKeeper and provided no emergency or and will be progressively rolled out over the coming 12 relief funding, despite a revenue shortfall of $1.8 billion and months, as current university enterprise agreements reach over 17,300 jobs lost from the sector in 2020. their expiry. It also introduced a new funding regime that more than Key issues doubled the cost of some courses, especially in Humanities, and reduced overall funding by $1 billion. The key issues that National Councillors agreed to focus on this bargaining round include: National Councillors agreed that the focus of the Union’s political work should be to gain support in the community, • Improving job security and addressing some of the worst amongst political parties and amongst individual parliamen- aspects of insecure employment. tary candidates for NTEU’s vision for the higher education • Measures to limit work intensification. sector in the lead-up to the next federal election, due some- time between May 2021 and August 2022. • Real targets for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander em- ployment and the Indigenisation of Aboriginal and Torres This will include a range of initiatives and activities aimed at Strait Islander services. engaging with members, other university staff, students and community organisations, amongst others, around develop- • Greater protections for academic freedom. ing the demands we need to make to achieve our vision for • A modest pay rise. higher education. • Local claims around issues that are deeply felt across staff Watch out for further details about what’s happening and at a particular institution. how you can get involved. ◆ This is likely to be a difficult bargaining round following the Michael Evans, National Organiser (Media & COVID-19 crisis, and if we are to achieve positive outcomes Engagement) we will need to build our workplace strength by engaging with colleagues and friends who aren’t union members and encouraging them to join and get involved.

Since 1958, the Australian AUR is published twice a year by the NTEU. Universities’ Review has NTEU members are entitled to receive a free been encouraging debate subscription on an opt-in basis . and discussion about issues If you are an NTEU member and would like to receive AUR, please email [email protected] in higher education and its contribution to Australian public life.

www.aur.org.au

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Obituary Dr Rod Crewther 1945–2020

Dr Rod Crewther, Physicist of note, a very popular teacher and supervisor, dab hand at the piano, author of the legendary Rod’s Council Notes (which provided insight into the workings of the University Council, while such a thing was still possible), a for- midable Unionist, and passionate student of University, national and international poli- tics, passed away on 17 December 2020. occupying these various roles, I understood how deeply-felt Rod was born in Victoria on 23 September 1945. He attend- his influence was after many years in his various posts. I ed Scotch College in Melbourne, which was followed by also enjoyed the great pleasure of seeing him regularly at was followed by a degrees in Science from the University the University of Adelaide Club, where he held a very special of Melbourne. After his master’s degree, he was awarded a place, often chuckling and guffawing as he read through Fulbright scholarship to the California Institute of Technol- State and National news coverage over cups of strong flat ogy, where he studied under the Nobel Prize winner Murray white coffee. His delight in this was infectious! Gell-Mann. Upon completing his PhD thesis, he was exam- ined by another Nobel Prize winner, Richard Feynman. Rod His work for the Union was in some respects peerless. Thirty subsequently proceeded to an enviable career as a scholar years as a representative of his university colleagues, and and teacher. Cornell University at Ithaca, Fermin National he became a foundation member of the NTEU. For a number Accelerator Laboratory in Illinois were followed by a period of years before the NTEU came into existence, Rod was in- in Europe, which included a six-year span at CERN, the fa- volved in the Federated Australian University Staff Associa- mous European Laboratory for Particle Physics in Geneva. tion (FAUSA). He was not in favour of the amalgamation, but when it happened, he turned his energies and commitment After that, he moved to the University of Berne, and then to the new organisation. onto Germany, and the University of Dortmund, and the Max Planck Institute in Munich. This was an early career in Indeed, this was a sign of another important trait of Rod’s. He which Rod circumnavigated the most important centres of did not mull over and over on political losses. He was, in this research. He became a specialist in Gauge Theory, which he regard, a political realist, and in the finest sense of the word. brought to the University of Adelaide, when he moved there Politics was to him the art of the possible, which was why so in the early 1980s as a Senior Lecturer; a position that he many members of the University’s senior administration both remained for the rest of his career. feared and made light of him in their private settings. I first met Rod after my arrival at the University of Ade- They at all times wanted the impossible, and it was Rod who laide in the late 1990s. I was drawn to him as a friend and very often drew them back from that unrealistic position. In colleague in a variety of contexts, and at first wondered why truth, politically he would have made a terrific VC! it was that he never rose to a status beyond his Senior Lec- Rod was Branch President for over twenty years, Vice-Presi- tureship. The answer, to my mind, is a simple one: Rod was dent (Academic) and Division President, Assistant Secretary intellectually and culturally a free spirit; a rare person who (Academic Staff), Councillor, and National Councillor. He was involved in research, for which he gained pre-eminence, led six rounds of Enterprise Bargaining, representing some and life. Not for him were some of the mundanities associat- 36,000 members of staff. It was so impressive to see him ed with a conventional career, it seemed. entering a new round with energy and enthusiasm, as if it He was a dedicated student of politics. As a Political-Histo- was his first. For many reasons, including very prominently rian myself, I never ceased to be impressed with his grasp of this role, he was in 2014 awarded SA Unions’ Certificate of politics, and his insights into history. But it was in the area of Recognition to the Union Movement. living politics; organisational politics, politics of institutions For those who knew and admired Rod for his many qualities, that he excelled. He knew the politics of the University of this was indeed a sad day when he died. He had struggled Adelaide inside-out. I learned so much from him in terms of with bouts of illness and treatment for some years, and did looking at how things worked, and very often didn’t work, at so in his normal stoical manner – by not allowing these to the University. overwhelm his spirit. At one stage in the course of his often In important ways, that is why I followed in his footsteps troubled treatments earlier on that he might lose his hearty into Union work, became a Branch President, Divisional laugh. But it did return, much to the delight of those who President, and a National Councillor, and replaced him as a knew him, and were his friends. member of the University Council when he left that body. In continued overpage...

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Dr Rod Crewther continued...

When he died, I posted a notice on the FaceBook page He left behind his beloved wife Galina, his siblings, Pauline Overheard at the University of Adelaide, an informal site for and David, Galina's sister and family, as well as step-children those who are interested in matters just below the surface and grandchildren. at the University. It attracted over 180 acknowledgments, I end this piece with a little levity, as I’m sure Rod would as well as many comments and shares. enjoy himself. It is his playing of Gershwin’s Prelude #2 ahead Amongst the latter was from a former student who wrote: of one of his lectures. The response from the students in 'That’s very sad to hear, had him in the first year for the lecture theatre says it all! Vale, Rod. Watch the video at Physics, we were all terrified by his brilliance but he was a nteu.info/rodcrewther ◆ pretty decent lecturer, helpful too!' Rod would have liked to read this. It was something all his colleagues would Felix Patrikeeff, University of Adelaide doubtless support the spirit of.

A fearless unionist, Olga fought and won so many battles on Vale Olga Lorenzo behalf of the Professional Writing and Editing program, and we are all in her debt. Olga Lorenzo, much loved teacher in the Asso- A hero who loved life, and a woman of style and charisma, Olga ciate Degree in Professional Writing and Ed- will be missed and loved by her students, her colleagues, and her iting (PWE) at RMIT and NTEU union activist friends. Our love and deepest condolences to Ellen, Anita and all died earlier this year. the family. Our beloved PWE teacher Olga Lorenzo passed away in John Reeves, Acting Programs Manager, Associate mid-February, at home, surrounded by her family. Degree in Professional Writing and Editing and the PWE teaching team at RMIT Olga was a brilliant writer. She won the Felix Meyer Scholarship and the Percival Serle Bequest at the University of Melbourne for her writing, as well as grants from Arts Victoria and the Aus- NTEU is terribly sad to hear of the passing of Olga Lorenzo. tralia Council, and a Varuna Fellowship. Olga was a sensational trade unionist. Her stunning, lyrical debut, The Rooms in My Mother's House, was Bold, principled and outspoken, she campaigned for a better published in 1996 and shortlisted for various literary awards, working life for Vocational Education (formerly TAFE) teachers and her latest book, The Light on the Water received rave reviews. at RMIT. From 2015 through to 2016, Olga played a vital, leading Olga's 2018 launch speech was a masterpiece. role in a gutsy union battle to secure a completely new Enter- An exacting, compassionate and inspirational teacher, Olga prise Agreement for RMIT’s teachers breaking them free of a taught writing at RMIT University and other Melbourne tertiary desperately outdated TAFE Award. institutions for 19 years, holding a Masters and a PhD in crea- Olga was among 20 teachers who had the foresight to iden- tive writing from the University of Melbourne. She previously tify the looming crisis in their workplace entitlements and worked as a journalist and sub-editor for The Age. approached to join the NTEU. Caught between two stools (VE teachers teaching HE Associate Degrees) they had no union and no (workable) Agreement. Upon joining the NTEU, they signed up 200 of their colleagues and went on to lead a campaign that defeated not one, but two, non-union ballots followed by bans and strikes. After two years they finally broke through to deliver among the strongest wages and conditions for Vocational Education teachers in Victoria. Olga will be missed by all of her friends and comrades in the NTEU and lives on in her beautiful novels and the inspiring impact she has had on her many students over the years. Dr Melissa Slee, Victorian Division Secretary

Image: Olga speaking at a picket on 8 October 2015, when Vocational Education teachers at RMIT took industrial action for 24 hours to fight for a fair and reasonable Enterprise Agreement. Vocational Education build- ings were a ghost town with management posting 'class cancelled' signs. Vocational Education students also came out to show their support.

ADVOCATE VOL. 28 NO. 1 ◆ MARCH 2021 37 ◆ MY UNION

Obituary Professor Margot Prior Hansen 1937–2020

As children, I am not sure that any of us fully understood what our mother did at work. For many years, while she was studying, my siblings and I did our homework or went to sleep to the sound of her giving piano and oboe lessons. Sometimes we attended orchestral concerts she played in. The work she did at her desk or at the university, though, for her contributions to scientific and clinical knowledge and remained fairly mysterious. In retrospect, it is very hard to received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Interna- imagine how she juggled parenting, studying, teaching and tional Society for Autism Research. The Margot Prior Wing working as a freelance musician, but she was never less than of the La Trobe University Community Children’s Centre is fully present in any of these spheres. As we have grown up, named in her honour. and following her death in August last year, we have come to reflect on and understand how the complex counterpoint Margot used her experience and this recognition as a plat- between these melody lines constituted and informed her form to become, as Professor Cheryl Dissanayake observes, rich creative and intellectual life. 'a prominent voice for child welfare, peace and social justice initiatives.' (The Age, October 9, 2020). She was a clear-eyed, Margot first trained as a musician and teacher at Melbourne hard-headed pragmatist, impatient to see evidence-based University, picking up the oboe with astonishing rapidity research applied for the betterment of the lives of real peo- when it turned out there was an over-supply of pianists. She ple facing real problems. met our father, Glen Prior, while she was studying music, and by 1964 they had burgeoning careers as orchestral A skilled communicator who often expressed frustration musicians, and were married with three children: Yoni, David at the jargon-laden density of academic writing she wrote and Sian. Tragically, in November of that year, Glen drowned newspaper columns and was a prominent media commenta- while saving two fellow Queensland Symphony Orchestra tor, with the aim of raising the level of public understanding musicians from the surf at Fingal Head in northern NSW. about child development, education, peace-making, the arts and the environment. Margot, now a widow with three children under 5 years old, returned to Melbourne and to study, retraining as a She co-founded Psychologists for the Prevention of War psychologist. Her Masters and doctoral degrees addressed (now Psychologists for Peace), co-established the La Trobe a condition about which little was then known, autism, and Institute for Peace Research and was also a co-founder of the she published the first Australian journal article on the con- Parenting Research Centre. From 2005 – 2007, she chaired dition now known as Autism Spectrum Disorder. the Social and Human Sciences Network for UNESCO, and travelled to places like India and Vietnam to train clinicians She moved rapidly from a tutorship at Monash University to to support children with developmental challenges. a lectureship at La Trobe University, where she apprenticed as a clinical psychologist while expanding her research in- She volunteered in an inner-city Aboriginal Health Service terests in child developmental psychology to include ADHD, for many years and campaigned for The Greens out of a Autism, Dyslexia, Child Behaviour Problems, Developmental deep concern for the environment and the effects of climate Neuropsychology and Temperament. change. Throughout her career there were many ‘firsts’, and many Margot married John Hansen in 1969 and they formed a large, awards. Margot designed and launched the Australian loving, sometimes chaotic blended family with seven children. Temperament Study, the first longitudinal study of its kind In later years she and John travelled widely across Australia which continues to this day, and established the first Clinical and internationally, and they shared a deep love of the natural Psychology Doctoral program in the country. She became world and a concern for the environment. To her enduring the first female Professor of Clinical Psychology in Australia sadness, the rise of her career as a scholar pushed her career (1989). as a musician progressively to the margins, though she contin- ued to play for pleasure, and to accompany her children and Her ground-breaking work and advocacy were recognised in grandchildren, almost to the end of her life. the awards of an OAM in 2004 and Victorian Senior Australi- an of the Year in 2006. A Fellow of the Academy of the Social She was also a lover of art and literature and an artist, Sciences, she was awarded Doctor of Science (honoris causa) though pathologically modest and inclined to attribute her continued overpage...

38 ADVOCATE VOL. 28 NO. 1 ◆ MARCH 2021 MY UNION ◆

Professor Margot Prior Hansen continued...

achievements in all things, though particularly as a musician expressed deep gratitude for the education and mentoring and a writer, to mere 'hard work'. she received from other scholars through her career, and returned that in spades in her collaborations with, and men- She certainly worked hard – indeed continued to work until toring of, other scholars. ill-health made it impossible. She taught, learned from, and collaborated with others, and her work made a difference to Her three children have all gone on to work in universities many people’s lives. The counterpoint between the melody and she commiserated with us often over the incremental lines of her life was not always easy to sustain, but her ca- erosion of resources for teaching and research and the cor- pacity to harmonise them testifies to her understanding that poratisation of the sector. Reflecting on her early years as a human beings need chords – family, fellowship, meaningful scholar, and what those gentler conditions and the generous work, communion with nature, and art – in order to flourish. encouragement of her mentors and colleagues helped her to And working conditions that allow this. achieve, she would say, 'We need time to think!' ◆ Her lifelong union membership aligned with her deep belief Dr Yoni Prior is a Honorary Senior Fellow in the critical importance of providing scholars (and all (Theatre) in the Faculty of Fine Arts and Music at workers) with a context in which they could do their best the University of Melbourne, and Margot Prior work, serve others and live productive lives. She frequently Hansen's daughter.

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New NTEU staff Monique Guy Noble Blasiak Please welcome new staff in our offices. NSW Division ACT Division Guy started as an Industrial Officer in Previous to joining the NTEU, Monique NSW on 18 January, He has been a lawyer worked as a Political Adviser for five since 2004, and has practised in a num- years, with a particular focus on elector- Dom Rowe ber of law firms as well as some of the ate strategy and community engagement. National Office largest industrial associations in Australia Throughout this time she also worked on and has over 10 years IR experience. various elections as a Campaign Manager Dom Rowe took on the new role of Di- and as a National Field Organiser, and is Guy gained a wealth of experience rector (Campaigning & Organising) in the keen to bring this experience to the union working on awards during the award National Office in February. movement. modernisation process and the 2012 and Dom started her working life as a casual 2014 reviews. Prior to entering the law Monique believes that unions are vital academic from there she worked with a he worked in a number of different fields to building an egalitarian and equitable range of unions covering cricket ball mak- and has been a multi-media teacher/ society. She also understands that the ers to oil refinery workers to transport trainer and an English language teacher in rights we enjoy today were fought for by workers to childcare workers. Europe and Australia. union members and we need to contin- ue to stand up these rights for the next For the last five years she worked at Guy and his partner have two daughters – generation of workers. Greenpeace heading up their campaign with the eldest starting her undergrad at work across 19 countries. Sydney in March 2021. continued overpage...

ADVOCATE VOL. 28 NO. 1 ◆ MARCH 2021 39 ◆ MY UNION

Henry Booth, formerly of ECU Branch, continued... New NTEU staff was appointed to the WA Division Organ- the Inner City Legal Centre, Sydney. One iser position in October 2020. of Ida’s goals at NTEU is to achieve secure Lisbeth Latham has moved to the ACU Gaylee Kuchel work conditions and fair pay for tertiary Branch Industrial Organiser position. ◆ Tasmanian education staff and to uphold academic Division freedom. Gaylee is the new Southern Division NATIONAL OFFICE STAFF Organiser at the University of Tasmania. Elliott Director (Industrial & Legal) Wayne Cupido Before joining the NTEU, Gaylee was a Dalgleish Senior Legal Officer Kelly Thomas union delegate within the healthcare in- National Industrial Officer (Research & Projects) dustry, while, ironically, being a university Victorian Division Ken McAlpine National Industrial Officer Campbell Smith student at UTAS. Elliott Dalgleish started as an Industrial Industrial Support Officer Renee Veal Previously, Gaylee has worked in volun- Officer in November. He is a unionist, Director (Policy & Research) Paul Kniest teer advocacy roles as a consumer repre- lawyer and is passionate about social Policy & Research Officers Terri MacDonald Kieran McCarron sentative. She looks forward to the new justice, community legal assistance and challenges this role will take, supporting advocacy for vulnerable clients. National A&TSI Director Adam Frogley National A&TSI Organiser Celeste Liddle members in a post-pandemic tertiary Preceding his employment with the Director (Campaigning & Organising) Dom Rowe working environment. NTEU, he gained significant ‘hands-on’ National Organiser (Media & Engagement) experience as an Industrial Officer for the Michael Evans National Organiser (Publications) Paul Clifton meat workers' union (AMIEU), as a solici- Communications Organiser (Digital) Jake Wishart tor in a private practice law firm, and as a Ida Nursoo Education & Training Organiser Helena Spyrou barrister at the private Bar. Executive Manager Peter Summers NSW Division Prior to joining the legal profession in National Membership Officer Melinda Valsorda ICT Network Engineer Tam Vuong Ida Nursoo started as an Industrial Officer 2008, Elliott worked as a saxophonist, Database Programmer/Data Analyst Uffan Saeed on a fixed term basis in the NSW Division academic, administrator and teacher. Payroll Administrator/HR Assistant Jo Riley in January. Ida completed a PhD at ANU Manager, Office of General Secretary & President Anastasia Kotaidis and has worked as a sessional academic Staff movements Executive Officer (Meeting & Events) Tracey Coster teaching courses in humanities, social Amity Lynch has transferred from the Admin Officer (Membership & Campaigns) sciences and law. Julie Ann Veal University of Sydney to NSW Division Receptionist & Admin Support Leanne Foote Office. Ida has also worked as a solicitor in vari- Acting Finance Manager Justin Hester ous Community Legal Centres in the ACT Tamara Ryan has been appointedto the Senior Finance Officer Gracia Ho and NSW. Most recently, Ida worked with Finance Officers Alex Ghvaladze, Lee Powell, position of ACT Division Organiser as a the Migrant Employment Legal Service at Tamara Labadze, Daphne Zhang, Jay Premkumar parental leave replacement to 1/6/21.

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