[Greens-Media] Greens to move for parliamentary inquiry if UNE Council fails to act

[John Kaye]

Greens to move for parliamentary inquiry if UNE Council fails to act 
 
Media Release: 15 August 2008
 
Unless Monday's meeting of the University of New England Council makes it clear they will not reappoint Chancellor John Cassidy, Greens NSW MP John Kaye will move to establish an Upper House inquiry into governance of the Armidale institution.
 
Dr Kaye said: "Mr Cassidy's corporate approach to his job has alienated the vast majority of the staff.
 
"The Chancellor is alleged to have over-stepped his authority and undermined the ability of the Vice-Chancellor Allen Pettigrew to perform his functions.
 
"Governance of the University has gone into a state of collapse. The dispute has rendered institutional management dysfunctional and the future of higher education in Armidale is now at risk.
 
"The Chancellor's big business style is in clear conflict with the values and ethos of an institution of higher learning. His attitude is summarised by his statement to Focus magazine: 'Whether you are selling fish and chips, construction or education, the business is the same'.
 
"It would be completely inappropriate to allow Mr Cassidy to be re-appointed when his term expires in December. 
 
"On Wednesday of this week, 678 members of staff voted for a motion calling on Council to oppose his re-appointment. This followed a vote of no confidence in the Chancellor in June by more than 300 employees and students.
 
"This has been going on for too long. The future of the University is being undermined and the matter must be resolved.
 
"If the UNE Council does not block the Chancellor's re-appointment on Monday, I will introduce a motion to establish an inquiry into the whole issue when the NSW Upper House sits again in September. 
 
"The parliament will be asked to exercise its responsibility for good governance of the state's universities.
 
"Hopefully other universities will learn from this mess that success in the world of big business is not necessarily a good qualification for appointing a Chancellor," Dr Kaye said. 
 
For more information: John Kaye 0407 195 455 
 
 
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John Kaye
Greens member of the NSW Parliament
phone: (02) 9230 2668
fax: (02) 9230 2586
mobile: 0407 195 455
email: john.kaye at parliament.nsw.gov.au
web: www.johnkaye.org.au
 
mail: Parliament House, Macquarie St, Sydney NSW 2000