[Greens-Media] UNE inquiry now essential after Council fails to act

[John Kaye]

UNE inquiry now essential after Council fails to act
 
Media Release: 19 August 2008
 
Greens NSW MP John Kaye will move to establish an Upper House inquiry into the governance of the University of New England when parliament sits again at the end of September.
 
Dr Kaye said: "The situation at the University has now become critical. 
 
"Yesterday's Council meeting dodged its responsibilities to the community. There was no undertaking to rule out Chancellor John Cassidy's reappointment when his term expires at the end of this year.
 
"The University is facing six years of chaos, wasted funds on inquiries into 1970s tea sets and squandered good will.
 
"It looks like the Council is hoping that the rest of the world will forget that  governance of the University has gone into a state of collapse.
 
"Last week UNE staff voted overwhelmingly for a parliamentary inquiry if the governing body failed to put a limit on Mr Cassidy's term of office.
 
"It is now time for the NSW Upper House to respond to the call for help from the University. 
 
"Over the next six weeks I will be asking staff and students to work with me to draft terms of reference for the inquiry.
 
"Given the overwhelming support for the inquiry and the increasingly absurd situation at UNE, it would be extraordinarily negligent of the NSW Upper House to not support the move.
 
"Mr Cassidy's big business approach to his job, his corporate interpretation of his authority as Chancellor and his ongoing battle with Vice Chancellor Professor Alan Pettigrew have rendered institutional management dysfunctional.
 
"The future of higher education in Armidale is now at risk.
 
"I will be inviting members of parliament to respond positively to the call for help from UNE staff," 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