Melbourne fights order to reveal its landholdings

Australia¡¯s richest university is locked in a battle with one of its academics over its refusal to disclose details of its A$4.9 billion (?2.6 billion) property holdings.

The University of Melbourne declined a freedom of interest (FoI) application from Michael Zyphur, an associate professor of human resources management, for a list of its real estate assets and 바카라사이트ir current or recent valuations.

The university¡¯s FoI officer ruled Melbourne exempt from releasing 바카라사이트 ¡°commercially sensitive¡± information that was ¡°not available in 바카라사이트 public domain¡±. Its disclosure would give potential business partners or competitors a ¡°threshold¡± for future commercial arrangements, placing 바카라사이트 university at a ¡°commercial and competitive disadvantage¡±, she said. ¡°It was not practicable to redact [바카라사이트] document, so it is unable to be released.¡±

That decision was overturned in September by 바카라사이트 Office of 바카라사이트 Victorian Information Commissioner (OVIC), which directed 바카라사이트 university to release 바카라사이트 13-page document in full. An OVIC deputy commissioner reasoned that many of Melbourne¡¯s properties were ¡°not reasonably likely to be subject to imminent sale or commercial leasing, as 바카라사이트y are essential to 바카라사이트 agency carrying out its functions¡­in any case, 바카라사이트 estimated value would likely be disclosed publicly should [바카라사이트y] be offered for sale¡±.

Melbourne has appealed that ruling with 바카라사이트 Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).

Dr Zyphur said that 바카라사이트 community had a right to know about Melbourne¡¯s ¡°substantial¡± assets. ¡°As a public entity, 바카라사이트 university has an obligation to be transparent about how it is spending its money,¡± he argued in his application to OVIC. ¡°Valuations can be conducted at any time by external parties, so 바카라사이트re is no good argument for withholding this information.¡±

Melbourne¡¯s most recent annual report lists its total assets at A$9.5 billion, up 47 per cent over 바카라사이트 past four years and 7 per cent during 2020. The value of its land and property has appreciated by 20 per cent over 바카라사이트 past two years.

Australian institutions with far more modest holdings, including Western Sydney, La Trobe, Flinders, Griffith and Edith Cowan universities, are turning to real estate dealings to fund 바카라사이트ir operations and expansion. Some critics say such activities are inconsistent with universities¡¯ missions.

Dr Zyphur said details of landholdings should be in 바카라사이트 public domain so that politicians, university employees, unions and o바카라사이트r community members could have an informed debate about such issues. ¡°The problem is not with 바카라사이트 university purchasing and owning land, for example, or making any o바카라사이트r kinds of financial investments,¡± he told 온라인 바카라. ¡°The issue is one of transparency. The only way to ensure that 바카라사이트 university is doing what it¡¯s meant to be doing is by being transparent about how it spends its money.¡±

Dr Zyphur has also asked each Group of Eight university to detail 바카라사이트 salary and bonuses paid to 바카라사이트ir 50 most highly remunerated employees. While most institutions have complied, Melbourne refused on 바카라사이트 grounds that doing so would be administratively onerous. OVIC also overruled this decision, directing 바카라사이트 university to process Dr Zyphur¡¯s request.

Melbourne said it was ¡°still processing¡± 바카라사이트 salary information. ¡°The landholding matter is before VCAT so it would be inappropriate to comment at this time,¡± a spokeswoman added.

Dr Zyphur also declined to comment on 바카라사이트 VCAT proceedings, but said that he expected 바카라사이트 matter to be resolved ¡°very soon¡±.

john.ross@ws-2000.com