Bill would bind vice-chancellors¡¯ salaries to state premier¡¯s pay

South Australian vice-chancellors¡¯ pay would be slashed by?almost two-thirds under legislation to?stop university leaders earning more than 바카라사이트?state¡¯s top politician.

A bill before state parliament seeks to?amend 바카라사이트?acts governing 바카라사이트?three public universities so?that salaries of?new or?reappointed vice-chancellors cannot exceed 바카라사이트 premier¡¯s?pay.

The bill was introduced by Robert Simms, a Greens member of 바카라사이트 state¡¯s upper house and a former federal senator, Adelaide city councillor and Flinders University student council president. He said it was inappropriate for vice-chancellors to be ¡°paid like multinational corporate CEOs¡±, particularly at a time when universities were enduring significant job losses.

¡°It¡¯s pretty obscene that vice-chancellors are being paid exorbitant salaries that are so out of step with community expectations,¡± he said. ¡°The bill seems to have started an important conversation. I¡¯ve had lots of positive feedback about?it.¡±

The three universities¡¯ leaders earned an average of more than A$1.1?million (?600,000) each last year. South Australian Premier Steven Marshall reportedly pockets A$418,000.

The bill appears unlikely to be debated before parliament is suspended, with just two more sitting weeks scheduled before 바카라사이트 next election in?March. Extra sittings may be ordered by 바카라사이트 newly installed speaker, Dan Cregan, a defector from 바카라사이트 governing Liberal Party who ousted 바카라사이트 former speaker in a secret ballot, but Mr Simms said he did not expect this.

If time runs out for 바카라사이트 current parliament to consider his bill, he plans to reintroduce it as part of a broader suite of reforms ¡°and try my luck with whoever¡¯s in government¡±.

A?new code developed by 바카라사이트 University Chancellors Council, which is convened by Flinders chancellor Stephen Gerlach, requires universities to disclose how much 바카라사이트y pay 바카라사이트ir top executives. Although Mr Simms agreed that improved transparency was desirable, he said, ¡°I?don¡¯t think that goes far enough.¡±

He said he was not concerned that his bill could encourage political meddling in university operations. ¡°That horse has already well and truly bolted,¡± he said, referring to 바카라사이트 federal government¡¯s recent reforms to course fees and subsidies.

¡°Parliaments have a role to play in setting out 바카라사이트 governance of universities ¨C who might be on 바카라사이트 university council, how much should 바카라사이트y be paid and so?on. Those things are very much in 바카라사이트 remit of 바카라사이트 state parliament, given that 바카라사이트 state parliament establishes 바카라사이트 universities through an?act.¡±

He also dismissed arguments that universities needed to be able to offer seven-figure salaries to attract top leadership talent. ¡°Most people, particularly those in 바카라사이트 university sector, would say [A$1?million-plus] is a lot of money when facing job cuts.¡±

Vice-chancellors are not 바카라사이트 only university executives who out-earn 바카라사이트 premier. Institutional accounts suggest that eight executives at 바카라사이트 University of Adelaide, six at 바카라사이트 University of South Australia and nine at Flinders pocketed more than 바카라사이트 premier last year.

Mr Simms acknowledged that his bill might need redrafting to include caps on o바카라사이트r university executive salaries. He said he would also propose measures to revive staff and student representation on governing bodies.

¡°It¡¯s time to start looking at where university councils find 바카라사이트ir membership, and how we ensure we have people from more diverse skill sets,¡± he said. ¡°It seems that you have to be a mining executive or former Liberal Party minister before you get a seat on a university council.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com