Arabic version: رئيسة جامعة كيرتن تعارض الاندماج المقترح لجامعات أستراليا الغربية

According to ABC News, Curtin University vice-chancellor Harlene Hayne has criticised a proposed merger of Curtin, Murdoch University and the University of Western Australia, saying it would be costly and would “fix something that is not broken”. The Western Australian government is proceeding with a business case into the potential amalgamation.

Professor Hayne said the proposal “solves problems that we don’t have and creates problems that we don’t need”, describing it as a “solution looking for a problem”. She challenged Tertiary Education Minister Tony Buti’s claim that the state’s universities were in a “race to the bottom”, citing data that she said showed 90 per cent of graduates from Western Australian universities found work within six months.

The government argues that a combined institution serving about 120,000 students could help the sector remain competitive and attract students and investment. Mr Buti said there was “hyper-competition” between universities and that the reforms were intended to ensure they were “world-class”.

Mark Barnaba, who will chair a steering committee advising the government during the business-case process, said the sector was “punching well below its weight”. He said the most optimistic cost-benefit estimate placed the benefits at 15 times the transition cost, though the final cost would be determined by the business case. The committee is expected to report to the government by mid-2027.

University staff have also raised objections. A National Tertiary Education Union survey found more than two-thirds of Western Australian public university staff opposed mergers, including more than three-quarters of Curtin staff. WA division secretary Scott Fitzgerald said decisions on universities should focus on students, staff and the wider community.