The Times Australia
The Times Australia

.

There is declining trust in Australian unis. Federal government policy is a big part of the problem

  • Written by Graeme Turner, Emeritus Professor of Cultural Studies, The University of Queensland

As we head towards the federal election, both sides of politics are making a point of criticising universities and questioning their role in the community.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has accused unis of focusing[1] on “woke” issues that “just aren’t cutting it around kitchen tables”.

The Albanese government has also accused universities of being out of touch. A Labor-chaired Senate committee has just set up an inquiry[2] into university governance, pointing to[3] “an extraordinary range” of issues, including executive pay.

Both the Coalition[4] and Labor want to clamp down on international student numbers, arguing they drive up city rents and threaten the integrity[5] of Australian higher education.

The criticism goes beyond politics. Recent media coverage[6] called the sector a “mess” and asked “is a university degree still worth it?”

No wonder newsletter Future Campus says[7] the “hottest topic” in Australian higher education is whether universities have lost their social licence.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton sits in a chair in the House of Representatives.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton is among those questioning the role of universities in Australia. Lukas Coch/AAP

What is social licence?

A social licence[8] means a community has given tacit permission for an organisation to operate. It goes beyond simple laws or regulations, and extends to the idea that a community implicitly trusts and has confidence in an organisation.

A social licence means businesses, in particular, should not ignore their responsibility to provide a social benefit to their communities. This needs to go beyond providing commodities or generating profits.

It may be a bit of stretch to compare universities with multinational corporations. But they have come under scrutiny for systemic underpayment of staff[9], “excessive” vice-chancellor and senior executive salaries[10] and a structural over-reliance on international student income[11].

In December 2024, a state parliament review[12] expressed concern the University of Tasmania was prioritising “commercial over community interests in its core functions”.

At the same time, Australian surveys show declining levels of public trust[13] in universities and community concerns[14] that profits take precedence over education.

Governments have played a role

So there are many reasons to ask how well our universities benefit the national community, beyond their economic outputs[15].

But while our politicians readily line up to express concern, it is highly disingenuous to only blame universities for their standing in the community.

The situation politicians now lament is the result of a long-term, bipartisan political project, prosecuted by successive federal governments.

As a 2023 Australia Institute report[16] found, federal government funding for universities (excluding HECS/HELP) has fallen from 0.9% of GDP in 1995 to 0.6% of GDP in 2021. Both Coalition[17] and Labor[18] governments have sought to reduce the sector’s costs to the budget.

Over a similar period, enrolments tripled[19].

Young people sit on the grass under a tree at a university campus.
University enrolments have tripled over the past three decades. James Ross/AAP

Read more: Tumult and transformation: the story of Australian universities over the past 30 years[20]

Behaving like businesses

To compensate for this funding loss, universities have been coaxed into behaving more like businesses[21].

The federal policy settings have shown them the way to go.

Teaching foreign students is more profitable than teaching domestic students, research collaborations with business and industry[22] are more profitable than collaboration with communities. Increasingly, in the search for new income sources, commercial[23], rather than academic, considerations have driven institutional decisions.

In a competitive market, the interests of individual institutions rather than those of the nation inevitably prevail.

There has been a succession[24] of redundancies[25] and knowledge, learning and personnel have been lost. The losses have wound back generations of accrued cultural and educational capital for the nation.

It is no surprise public confidence in universities’ utility and legitimacy has diminished.

The most significant problem

This is not to say universities are blameless. University leaders[26] and academics[27] acknowledge there has been a loss of public confidence. There is also acknowledgement some of the damage is due to internal issues – such as governance failures[28].

But the most significant problem is the corrosive effect of several decades of commercialisation, underpinned by a political disregard for the sector’s contribution to the public good.

If political leaders are serious about arresting the erosion of our universities’ social licence, it would be helpful if they stopped behaving as if it has nothing to do with them.

Graeme Turner’s book, Broken: Universities, politics and the public good, will be published by Monash University Press in July as part of its In the National Interest series.

References

  1. ^ accused unis of focusing (www.news.com.au)
  2. ^ set up an inquiry (www.aph.gov.au)
  3. ^ pointing to (www.theaustralian.com.au)
  4. ^ Coalition (www.smh.com.au)
  5. ^ threaten the integrity (ministers.education.gov.au)
  6. ^ media coverage (www.afr.com)
  7. ^ says (futurecampus.com.au)
  8. ^ social licence (blogs.griffith.edu.au)
  9. ^ underpayment of staff (www.afr.com)
  10. ^ vice-chancellor and senior executive salaries (www.theguardian.com)
  11. ^ international student income (www.abc.net.au)
  12. ^ state parliament review (megwebb.com.au)
  13. ^ declining levels of public trust (csrm.cass.anu.edu.au)
  14. ^ community concerns (australiainstitute.org.au)
  15. ^ economic outputs (www.education.gov.au)
  16. ^ 2023 Australia Institute report (australiainstitute.org.au)
  17. ^ Coalition (universitiesaustralia.edu.au)
  18. ^ Labor (www.theguardian.com)
  19. ^ enrolments tripled (theconversation.com)
  20. ^ Tumult and transformation: the story of Australian universities over the past 30 years (theconversation.com)
  21. ^ behaving more like businesses (blog.aare.edu.au)
  22. ^ research collaborations with business and industry (apo.org.au)
  23. ^ commercial (go8.edu.au)
  24. ^ succession (www.abc.net.au)
  25. ^ redundancies (blog.aare.edu.au)
  26. ^ leaders (www.afr.com)
  27. ^ academics (www.abc.net.au)
  28. ^ governance failures (www.afr.com)

Read more https://theconversation.com/there-is-declining-trust-in-australian-unis-federal-government-policy-is-a-big-part-of-the-problem-248770

Wild swings in the oil price make the Reserve Bank’s job harder

It looks, at least for now, as though tensions in the Middle East are easing somewhat[1]. It appears much less...

Times Magazine

Headless CMS in Digital Twins and 3D Product Experiences

Image by freepik As the metaverse becomes more advanced and accessible, it's clear that multiple sectors will use digital twins and 3D product experiences to visualize, connect, and streamline efforts better. A digital twin is a virtual replica of ...

The Decline of Hyper-Casual: How Mid-Core Mobile Games Took Over in 2025

In recent years, the mobile gaming landscape has undergone a significant transformation, with mid-core mobile games emerging as the dominant force in app stores by 2025. This shift is underpinned by changing user habits and evolving monetization tr...

Understanding ITIL 4 and PRINCE2 Project Management Synergy

Key Highlights ITIL 4 focuses on IT service management, emphasising continual improvement and value creation through modern digital transformation approaches. PRINCE2 project management supports systematic planning and execution of projects wit...

What AI Adoption Means for the Future of Workplace Risk Management

Image by freepik As industrial operations become more complex and fast-paced, the risks faced by workers and employers alike continue to grow. Traditional safety models—reliant on manual oversight, reactive investigations, and standardised checklist...

From Beach Bops to Alpine Anthems: Your Sonos Survival Guide for a Long Weekend Escape

Alright, fellow adventurers and relaxation enthusiasts! So, you've packed your bags, charged your devices, and mentally prepared for that glorious King's Birthday long weekend. But hold on, are you really ready? Because a true long weekend warrior kn...

Effective Commercial Pest Control Solutions for a Safer Workplace

Keeping a workplace clean, safe, and free from pests is essential for maintaining productivity, protecting employee health, and upholding a company's reputation. Pests pose health risks, can cause structural damage, and can lead to serious legal an...

The Times Features

Prefab’s Second Life: Why Australia’s Backyard Boom Needs a Circular Makeover

The humble granny flat is being reimagined not just as a fix for housing shortages, but as a cornerstone of circular, factory-built architecture. But are our systems ready to s...

Melbourne’s Burglary Boom: Break-Ins Surge Nearly 25%

Victorian homeowners are being warned to act now, as rising break-ins and falling arrest rates paint a worrying picture for suburban safety. Melbourne residents are facing an ...

Exploring the Curriculum at a Modern Junior School in Melbourne

Key Highlights The curriculum at junior schools emphasises whole-person development, catering to children’s physical, emotional, and intellectual needs. It ensures early year...

Distressed by all the bad news? Here’s how to stay informed but still look after yourself

If you’re feeling like the news is particularly bad at the moment, you’re not alone. But many of us can’t look away – and don’t want to. Engaging with news can help us make ...

The Role of Your GP in Creating a Chronic Disease Management Plan That Works

Living with a long-term condition, whether that is diabetes, asthma, arthritis or heart disease, means making hundreds of small decisions every day. You plan your diet against m...

Troubleshooting Flickering Lights: A Comprehensive Guide for Homeowners

Image by rawpixel.com on Freepik Effectively addressing flickering lights in your home is more than just a matter of convenience; it's a pivotal aspect of both home safety and en...