A long-awaited report analysing the benefits of merging three of Western Australia’s four public universities has been handed to the state government for consideration.
This masthead can reveal that the three options considered by the cost-benefit analysis were combining the University of Western Australia, Curtin University and Murdoch University; merging UWA and Murdoch; and merging Curtin and UWA.
Edith Cowan University was exempt from mergers, thanks to the opening of its city campus this year.
University guilds, staff associations, business leaders and university executives were all consulted for the review.
Then-education minister Tony Buti commissioned a review of the state’s tertiary sector in 2023 after concerns were raised about plummeting student numbers and research grants, and WA university standings compared to their east coast counterparts.
The review prompted Buti to commission a cost-benefit analysis of the three merger options mid- last year, which was led by former Labor heavyweight Alannah MacTiernan.
It was expected to be handed to the government by the end of last year, but did not meet the deadline.
This masthead can confirm Buti’s office now has the review and is considering its findings – but any action has been delayed due to the war in Iran shuffling the government’s list of priorities.
Buti is currently the commerce minister, whose portfolio helps manage the fuel supply in and out of the state.
The report’s findings were understood to be broadly supportive of mergers, but remains unclear which option would provide the state the best bang for its buck.
The government’s intention to merge some of the state’s iconic tertiary institutions is considered a done deal in academic circles, given WA Premier Roger Cook’s previous public commentary that Perth had too many universities for a city of its size.
Adding weight to that view is the decision to conduct a detailed cost-benefit analysis in the first place.
Tertiary unions, student guilds and some universities have previously voiced their opposition to mergers, however both Curtin and Murdoch institutions to comment.
“The University of Western Australia is aware the state government is considering options but is not aware of any outcome,” a UWA spokesperson said.
Buti has previously expressed his intention to examine the tertiary sector fairly and robustly.
“WA’s universities are central to our state’s future, providing educational opportunities, driving research and development and building capability in areas of strategic importance,” Buti previously said.
“Two independent reviews have been commissioned to investigate the structure of the university sector in WA and its ongoing sustainability.
“The WA government is carefully considering the findings of those reviews.”
Former WA chief scientist Peter Klinken has been advocating for university mergers for more than a decade.
He said he would like to see discussion over the future of the sector happen sooner rather than later.
“I remain a passionate advocate of it,” he told this masthead.
“The number of people I speak to about it in the business world and even in academia, once they’ve seen the data, realise what the situation is.
“The Australian university sector is really struggling across the board. We have to make some changes to be successful in this rapidly changing world.
“There’s no doubt about the fact we aren’t attracting even our per capita level of competitive grants or international students – you’ve got to look at the reasons for that.”
Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
Hamish Hastie is WAtoday’s state political reporter and the winner of five WA Media Awards, including the 2023 Beck Prize for best political journalism.Connect via X or email.
Holly Thompson is a journalist with WAtoday, specialising in education and the environment.Connect via X or email.