The Abbott government has had its fair share of criticism for broken election promises – most notably that “no cuts to the ABC or SBS” bullshit – but now the Commonwealth is facing legal action from the University of Canberra for one of ’em.
They’re gearing up to take the Commonwealth to court over what they argue is an unlawful cancellation of a $26 million federal grant.
As per reports, the grant was promised in May 2013 under the Gillard Labor government to set up a Centre for Quality Teaching and Learning, under a six-year funding deal. Believing in good faith that the grant wouldn’t be taken away, the university went ahead and hired half a dozen “stella academics” on five-year contracts to get it going.
Then, of course, the Abbot government was voted in and abandoned the Gonski model, which the new centre was part of. Fairfax reports that although they signed off on the first $1 million, they cut off the rest of the funding, with Christopher Pyne‘s office citing “the current fiscal environment”. Business Insider reported that this saved the government $21 million over five years, in a 2014 article titled ‘Here’s a mind-blowing list of some of the government programs axed in Australia’s Federal Budget‘.
Before they found out about the funding axe, the UC had already sent $4.4 million worth of invoices to the Commonwealth. They’re now seeking payment for those, too.
Shit gets a liiiiitle fishy, according to the university, when you look at who they appointed to head the board: Ken Boston, former NSW director of education and Gonski review panellist, and outspoken critic of the Abbott government. As per the agreement, the Commonwealth were supposed to sign off on Boston’s appointment, but never did, and didn’t answer phone calls and letters following up. When they eventually responded to the second letter sent, back in April this year, it was to inform the UC of the funding cut.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Parker told the SMH:
“I think an important underlying issue is that this was a standard cancellation clause you can find in numerous (if not all) funding agreements. If, after receiving an instalment of a grant, and not having been in breach, a grant can be cancelled, who can now rely on the fact that they have won one?”
Picture: Stefan Postles via Getty Images.
via SMH.
