A recent senate inquiry has criticized Australian universities for a pervasive culture of unaccountability and failure. Labor Senator Tony Sheldon, the former chair of the inquiry, described the situation as a "culture of consequence-free, rotten failure." He noted that these failures have led to damaging restructures, job losses, and a growing sense of abandonment among students.

The inquiry released its interim findings, which included 12 recommendations aimed at improving governance in public universities. Among these recommendations is the establishment of a remuneration tribunal to limit the salaries of vice chancellors, who currently earn an average of over $1 million. The report also called for increased involvement from staff and students in university councils, enhanced powers for the university regulator, and improved transparency measures.

Current chair, Labor Senator Marielle Smith, emphasized the need for universities to reflect their public mission. "Universities are public institutions, established for the public good. Their governance arrangements, and the remuneration of their senior executives, should reflect that," she stated. The inquiry revealed that more than 300 university executives earn salaries exceeding those of state premiers.

The inquiry also addressed troubling reports about university redundancy processes. Staff facing layoffs were reportedly advised to "wash their delicates" to manage stress. The committee recommended that universities adopt best practices for change management and engage in meaningful consultations with staff and students.

Dr. Alison Barnes from the National Tertiary Education Union welcomed the recommendations, stating, "These are critical foundations for rebuilding trust in public universities, and for the many staff currently facing job cuts these measures can't come soon enough."

Senator Smith criticized the impact of course cuts on students, noting that recent closures and overcrowded classes have compromised the learning experience. "Students shared that recent course closures and overbooked classes undermined their overall learning experience, including during some classes where students were forced to sit on the floor. This is clearly unacceptable," she said.

The inquiry also recommended that universities disclose their spending on consultants. Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi urged swift action on the recommendations, stating, "This inquiry has truly exposed what lies beneath the tip of the governance failure iceberg — overpaid and arrogant management and their largesse, opaque, unaccountable and top-down decision making and governance bodies stacked with corporate appointees."

University leaders have cited funding challenges as reasons for course and staff cuts. However, reports of lavish spending on business class travel and extravagant catering have raised skepticism among staff. The committee plans to hold additional hearings before releasing its final report in December.

Senator Sheldon concluded, "We need universities run with integrity, not secrecy, and this report is a warning shot to those who think the rules don't apply to them. The recommendations send a clear message: public money comes with public accountability."

The 12 recommendations include: 1) Improving transparency and accountability of governing bodies by publishing council minutes and disclosing consultant spending. 2) Updating the powers of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) to enforce transparency measures. 3) Adopting best practices for change management proposals. 4) Setting a salary range for vice chancellors and senior executives. 5) Ensuring representation from staff and students on governing bodies. 6) Facilitating governance training for elected representatives. 7) Legislation to enhance TEQSA's powers for investigations. 8) Improving governance reporting requirements. 9) Collaborating with other regulatory bodies to avoid duplication. 10) Enhancing complaints processes for effectiveness and accessibility.