Stop the Uni Merger!
University staff overwhelmingly OPPOSE the State Government’s proposed merger of UWA, Curtin and Murdoch universities. We need REAL governance reform in the interests of students and staff – not more job cuts and corporatisation of the sector. Sign the WA-wide uni staff petition above to demand the State Government withdraw this proposal for a corporate merger.
Why we oppose the uni merger
The WA State Government announced on 10 October 2026 that it will undertake a business case on the proposal to merge Curtin University, the University of Western Australia and Murdoch University into a single university.
The NTEU WA Division is campaigning alongside the student guilds to oppose this merger. Staff at universities across the country have lived through mergers and restructures, and their experience is that these processes all too often bring job cuts and higher workloads, without solving governance problems.
Promises that a merger will bring scale, better student outcomes and stronger research rest on aspiration, not evidence. For example, the new Adelaide University is 40% below its international enrolment target, leaving a $90m shortfall, with no sign yet of better research outcomes.
We call on the State Government to withdraw the proposal for a university merger, and to instead enact real governance reform at WA universities in the interests of students, staff and the higher education sector. READ FULL ARTICLE.
