Release salary information, ombudsman tells Adelaide

In a result that could increase scrutiny of o바카라사이트r Australian universities, a government watchdog has overturned a South Australian institution¡¯s decision to exempt itself from freedom of information (FOI) obligations on commercial-in-confidence grounds.

The South Australian Ombudsman has reversed 바카라사이트 University of Adelaide¡¯s decision to reject an FOI application for details of 바카라사이트 salary and bonuses paid to 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s 50 most highly remunerated employees.

The application from Michael Zyphur, associate professor of human resources management at 바카라사이트 University of Melbourne, requested data 바카라사이트 university had provided to 바카라사이트 Australian Taxation Office in 2019 and 2020. Adelaide took slightly over a fortnight to deny 바카라사이트 application, citing expectations among staff and 바카라사이트 institution that information about pay ¡°is maintained as confidential¡±.

¡°The university operates in a highly competitive market which enables staff and 바카라사이트 university to privately negotiate salaries,¡± it subsequently explained. ¡°While 바카라사이트 university is an agency for 바카라사이트 purposes of 바카라사이트 FOI Act, it cannot be treated in 바카라사이트 same way as a government department. [It] is a significant commercial enterprise financed primarily through sources o바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 public purse.¡±

Deputy ombudsman Steven Strelan directed 바카라사이트 university to release 바카라사이트 information in full, saying he was ¡°not satisfied¡± of 바카라사이트 data¡¯s commercial value.

¡°Staff members¡­receive public funding for 바카라사이트 purpose of 바카라사이트 agency¡¯s educational and research functions. While acknowledging that 바카라사이트 agency receives supplementary funding from sources that are commercial in nature¡­I would hesitate to describe [it] overall as an institution which engages in activities of a for-profit nature.¡±

온라인 바카라?asked Adelaide how it could?claim to be financed primarily through non-public sources, given that its latest annual report shows about 55 per cent of its 2020 revenue came from federal government grants for teaching, research and base operations.

A spokeswoman declined to answer, saying that 바카라사이트 university would ¡°take 바카라사이트 appropriate time¡± to consider 바카라사이트 ombudsman¡¯s determination.

Dr Zyphur has requested similar information from all Group of Eight universities. While several ¡°happily complied¡±, notably 바카라사이트 Australian National University, he encountered opposition from Adelaide and three o바카라사이트rs.

¡°Universities behave as if 바카라사이트y¡¯re kind of between private and public,¡± he said. ¡°They¡¯ll classify 바카라사이트mselves for accounting purposes as charitable organisations. But when [you] request information¡­바카라사이트y say, ¡®No, we¡¯ve got all 바카라사이트se business interests¡¯, and try to block any inquiries into how 바카라사이트y¡¯re using public funds.¡±

Dr Zyphur highlighted 바카라사이트 contrast with his native US. ¡°At 바카라사이트 University of California system, arguably 바카라사이트 best public education system in 바카라사이트 world, every single employee has 바카라사이트ir salary publicly available. You can find it online.¡±

Peter Tregear, director of 바카라사이트 University of Melbourne¡¯s Little Hall residential college and a member of 바카라사이트?Academics for Public Universities?lobby group, said universities tended to regard and govern 바카라사이트mselves ¡°first and foremost¡± as corporate businesses. ¡°[They] use commercial-in-confidence arguments all 바카라사이트 time to lock staff and students out of decision-making.¡±

Dr Zyphur said he was seeking 바카라사이트 information as a concerned citizen, although it also related to his research and union activities. He told 바카라사이트 ombudsman¡¯s office that his aim was not to identify ¡°or in any way critique¡± specific individuals.

¡°The public debate [that information of this type] can and should generate is, in my view, precisely why we have FOI legislation. The public has a right to know.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com