WA moves ahead with plans to create mega-uni amid concerns

Western Australia is moving ahead with plans to merge three of its public universities, with the state government today announcing a business case into the potential amalgamation.

The government has been pushing for a merger between Curtin University, Murdoch University and the University of Western Australia, launching two studies into the performance of the state's higher education sector in the past three years.

On Sunday, Premier Roger Cook said the government would carry out the business case, with input from a steering committee that is expected to present its findings by mid-2027.

He said a merger would provide maximum economic benefits for WA.

"It would also improve outcomes for students, help boost research funding, help retain and attract students to WA and address low completion rates," he said.

Tertiary Education Minister Tony Buti also said a merger would ensure WA universities remain "highly competitive, accessible and relevant in an ever-changing domestic and international market".

"At present, we have duplicated offerings, fragmented investment and limited scale across our universities," he said. "We have an opportunity to address these challenges."

Universities concerned

Mr Cook said the business case would look into the merger costs and the potential for it to be funded by the universities themselves.

All three universities, however, have raised concerns.

Curtin University vice-chancellor Harlene Hayne said the institution would "vigorously oppose" an amalgamation.

"Cost, waste, and loss of choice, jobs and legacy will be the hallmarks of the planned merger of universities proposed by the Western Australian Government today," she said in a statement.

Professor Hayne said the sheer size of any merged institution was worrisome.

"A three-way merger of Curtin, UWA and Murdoch would create a mega-university of almost 120,000 students — a scale unmatched in Australia and rare internationally," she said.

Curtin Student Guild president Dylan Storer also said he was worried students could fall through the cracks in a much larger institution.

"It's the loss of choice, it's the monopolisation of education, tertiary education here in Western Australia, it's reducing options, but also reducing that diversity that is really important," he said.

A Murdoch University spokesperson also raised concerns about the lack of choice, adding that Western Australia "is best served by having four public universities, each with its own special characteristics".

A UWA spokesperson said that while the university was open to discussions about the sector's future, any merger proposal "would need to be backed up by a sound business rationale and offer significant benefits to students and the WA community".

South Australian example

WA appears to be following the lead of South Australia, which merged the University of South Australia and University of Adelaide to create Adelaide University.

The university, which opened its doors in January, was projected to be one of the largest higher education institutions in the nation, with modelling suggesting it would bring $500 million annually to the state's economy.

However, recent statistics show it is not on track to meet its international student targets due to the federal government's migration cuts, and is staring down tens of millions in lost revenue.

'Not about job cuts'

The WA committee appointed to oversee the business case is chaired by Mark Barnaba, former deputy chairman at mining firm Fortescue.

Fiona Wood is the deputy chair, and the other members are Peter Klinken, Susan Grylls, Elizabeth Gaines, Rebecca Tomkinson and Peter Yu.

Mr Barnaba said a merger would be good for the state, and dismissed suggestions that it would result in job cuts.

"This is not about cost savings through job reductions; this is about creating a fundamentally stronger institution," he said.

Committee member Professor Klinken said the 2023 university sector review found WA institutions were lagging in government and research funding, as well as student enrolments.

But shadow minister for education Liam Staltari said that review was likely out of date by now, and that the cost of the business case was also concerning.

"The critical question, what will this actually cost the taxpayers, who they expect to foot the bill if they take this up — is still unanswered," he said.

"They need to talk to the sector."