University merger ‘on the cards’ in Western Australia

Western Australia’s government is reportedly deliberating whether to combine as many as three of its four public universities following the completion of a secretive study.

According to WA Today, a cost-benefit analysis of several merger options has indicated that an amalgamation should proceed without recommending a particular option.

The alternatives under consideration would see the University of Western Australia unite with either Murdoch University or Curtin University, or both.

The cost-benefit study, led by former state and federal politician Alannah MacTiernan, was due with the government by the end of last year but reportedly delivered late. Neither it nor the 2023 review that preceded it, undertaken by former James Cook University vice-chancellor Sandra Harding, has been released publicly.

MacTiernan’s report is said to be under consideration by tertiary education minister Tony Buti, but the deliberations have been delayed as Buti – who is also commerce minister – focuses on managing threats to the state’s fuel supply amid the Middle East conflict.

Mergers have been a hot topic in the west after neighbouring South Australia resolved to combine two of its three public universities. The new entity, Adelaide University, began operations this year.

While the vice-chancellors of the merging South Australian institutions were strong advocates of the idea, most Perth university bosses have emphatically rejected a similar union in the country’s west.

However, Western Australian premier Roger Cook – like his South Australian counterpart Peter Malinauskas – is said to be a strong backer of university amalgamations.

Western Australia has four public universities, along with the private but publicly funded University of Notre Dame Australia. In November, Cook suggested that may be too many for a state with a little over 3 million people.

Addressing the latest merger speculation, Cook said his government would continue to investigate the idea. He told ABC Radio that mergers may be necessary to ensure that the state’s universities were sustainable, efficient and affordable.

While Australian higher education policy and funding is almost exclusively a federal responsibility, public universities are mostly owned by state governments and established under state acts.

john.ross@timeshighereducation.com