Flinders University

Adjourned debate on motion of Hon. J.S. Lee:

That this council—

1. Congratulates Flinders University for celebrating its 50^th anniversary in 2016;

2. Highlights the contributions made by Flinders University and its alumni throughout its 50-year history; and

3. Acknowledges the significant establishment and achievements of the university in South Australia, nationally and on the global stage.

(Continued from 6 July 2016.)

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (17:46): I rise to support the Hon. Jing Lee's motion with regard to congratulating the Flinders University of South Australia for achieving the milestone of its 50^th anniversary in 2016 and to acknowledge the work of its many talented alumni, not least of all former Greens Senator Robert Simms and the current Greens member for Newtown, Jenny Leong. Other luminaries include: Australian actress, director, writer, presenter and broadcaster, Noni Hazlehurst; Greig Pickhaver, who would be better known to most people here as H.G. Nelson; and the late Doc Neeson, the front man of the Angels.

Many members of this parliament would be known to many members here: former premier John Bannon; current minister, the Hon. Zoe Bettison; minister Susan Close; the honourable minister Ian Hunter in this place; the member for Newland, Tom Kenyon; the member for Ashford, the Hon. Steph Key; the member for Kaurna, Chris Picton; former premier Mike Rann. Federal members, such as Amanda Rishworth MP and Kate Ellis MP, have also played their part as former students and alumni of Flinders University.

It is a fine thing to honour that work, but I have to say that the Greens cannot see this particular occasion pass without noting the great concerns that we have, which are shared by many people in the community as well as many current students, staff and alumni, about the current inconceivable figure paid to the university's vice-chancellor. I have to say from the outset that it is also important to note that Flinders University is not alone in this exorbitance not just in Australia but also here in South Australia. Both the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia pay their vice-chancellors similar extravagant figures.

The sum that has been quoted in The Advertiser, as has been reported, which is made up of a salary as well as sign-on fees, is some $1.195 million for vice-chancellor Colin Stirling's first year in the role. It also includes other one-off payments and I understand that his salary has risen by $39,000 from the previous year, 2014, from the article in The Advertiser of Wednesday 20 July.

That figure is not only of concern because of its nature, but because this university is facing budget cuts, budget cuts that are affecting student services and staff. I note that that figure is well in excess of the amount the Hon. Jay Weatherill, as Premier of this state, will earn this year. It is also well in excess of what the President of the United States, Barack Obama, earns, or what the Prime Minister of this country, Malcolm Turnbull, earns. The Prime Minister of Canada, the Chancellor of Germany and so many more would look on enviously at commanding the salary that the current vice-chancellor of Flinders University commands.

As John Pezy from Flinders Branch Committee of the National Tertiary Education Union stated in an article posted online in response to this news:

This is a severe slap in the face for Flinders staff who since late last year have heard our Vice-Chancellor lament on numerous occasions that we are faced with a budget shortfall that must be addressed and that our costs were growing more rapidly than our income...

On the eve of university shut down period last year Professor Stirling emailed all staff and advised us that:

As you are all aware, our budget circumstances have meant that we finish the year with an interim recruitment freeze in place and a difficult challenge ahead for the 2016 budget and beyond. Whilst the 'freeze' has purportedly now been lifted, it is still in place for all intents and purposes under a slightly different guise and terminology.

Flinders has lost extensive numbers of staff, both academic and professional, as a consequence of the voluntary early retirement scheme (VERS). Many areas of the university are struggling to function and are faced with an inhumane increase in workload, increasing demands on our time, whilst using outdated and inefficient systems are a daily struggle…

However, Professor Stirling is apparently worth more than the Australian Prime Minister…Canada's Prime Minister…Germany's Chancellor…and even the President of the United States of America. Seen in that light, we are right to question whether this V-C is value for money…

The Flinders Branch Committee believes that it is time to call it out for what it is: grossly unjust. Unfortunately, Flinders University is not alone in paying exorbitant amounts for this underwhelming leadership. It is plainly obvious that executive salaries at Australian universities have been inflated to a ridiculous degree, and we are in a cycle of rewarding the aping of corporate behaviour with increasingly excessive pay packets.

So, while here today I do congratulate the Flinders University on attaining that 50^th year this year, and recognise its significant, substantial and great contribution to our community, and those contributions of its alumni, I do urge all our South Australian universities to remember that such contributions of research, education and accessibility should remain at the forefront of the world's attention, rather than the earnings of their senior employees.

The Hon. T.T. NGO (17:53): I rise to congratulate Flinders University on its 50^th anniversary. Flinders University opened on 25 March 1966 with a cohort of 400 students and fewer than 10 courses. The university now has almost 25,000 students, including more than 4,500 international students, and offers over 115 undergraduate and 286 postgraduate courses across all disciplines.

Its inaugural Vice-Chancellor, Peter Karmel, envisioned a university that was 'free to innovate and not be bound by tradition'. Flinders University is certainly living up to this vision, with its innovative approach to research and education. We also need this from our industries and governments. There must be a continued willingness from governments, universities and industries to work collaboratively for the social and economic wellbeing of our society.

Due to its location, Flinders effectively is part of a precinct alongside Tonsley and the Flinders Medical Centre. Operating within such a precinct certainly has its advantages. I note that Flinders has been very supportive of both the Tonsley and Flinders Medical Centre upgrades. Tonsley (the former Mitsubishi site) continues to play an important role for many people, especially the residents of the southern suburbs.

With the support of the state government, Flinders University committed to the local community by opening its $120 million Tonsley campus in early 2015, which houses 150 staff and 2,000 students. The university's School of Computer Science, Engineering and Mathematics, the Medical Device Research Institute, the Centre for Nanoscale Science and Technology and the New Venture Institute (NVI) are now co-located with entrepreneurial businesses and high-tech industries—a manifestation of the university's drive for innovation and excellence.

Since its establishment, Flinders University has spread its wings regionally, interstate and internationally. The university opened its Victoria Square campus in 2009. There are also campuses in rural areas, including the Rural Clinical School in the Barossa and the Lincoln Marine Science Centre in Port Lincoln. The Greater Green Triangle University Department of Rural Health, a centre for rural and remote health education, training and research, is a partnership between Flinders University and Deakin University that covers a vast area in the South-East and southern Victoria.

The university's vision defines 'a central corridor' to Asia via the Northern Territory, where it delivers the Northern Territory Medical Program in collaboration with Charles Darwin University, in areas such as Darwin, Alice Springs and Katherine. Flinders has become a truly international university with links and partnerships with institutions in China, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Indonesia. For example, the Jembatan initiative launched in 2015, is building close ties between our state's agencies, community and business organisations and Indonesia to support cultural and educational exchange.

We must not forget that universities will always primarily remain a place of learning, but by promoting critical thinking, universities also have a key role to play in grooming the leaders of industry and government now and into the future. Flinders' motto is 'Inspiring Achievement', inspiring its students 'to achieve their highest potential, encourage intellectual and cultural curiosity, and foster a global perspective.' Our educational institutions must be in the business of preparing our state's future leaders to confront future challenges without prejudice and without the ideological baggage of either the left or the right, in order to get the results we want for our community.

I never went to Flinders University, but one of my staffers who did has told me of his positive experiences. He tells me that he learned many topics which challenged the orthodoxy with facts and critical analysis without bias. He speaks fondly of a particular lecturer, Associate Professor Haydon Manning, who works within the School of Social and Policy Studies as a member of the Politics and Public Policy discipline. As many in this chamber would be aware, Haydon Manning is an advocate for South Australia's greater involvement in the nuclear fuel cycle. My understanding is that he considers himself very much a passionate environmentalist as well as being a creature of the left during his formative years.

In an environmental politics course my staffer took, one of the topics involved a critique into all sides of the debate on climate change. It is fair to say that current orthodoxy dictates that climate change is real and human-made, and that action needs to be taken to address it. While I agree with this, it is important that alternative arguments are allowed to be put forward and then critically analysed. My understanding is that, amongst other required readings, this topic contained Bjorn Lomborg's thesis known as 'the litany'. Haydon's course also contained works from notable Australian environmentalists such as Tim Flannery.

Dr Lomborg's 'litany' is the idea, not that climate change is not real, or that it is not contributed to by people, but that, after thorough economic analysis, the amount of resources required to adequately address climate change would require the diversion, or lack of provision, of a significant amount of resources from other needs, such as fighting world hunger or addressing the AIDS epidemic in Africa. Dr Lomborg famously said:

Just because there is a problem doesn't mean that we have to solve it, if the cure is going to be more expensive than the original ailment.

Mr President, regardless of my or your views on this matter, I hope that Flinders is still introducing students to this work, as presenting competing material allows students to form their own critical judgements. This is the bedrock of critical learning. Future leaders brought up in this learning environment will be better guardians of our state's social, political, cultural and economic institutions, as they will be more open to change without being constrained by tribalism and fanaticism.

I know from conversations I have had with my own staffer that he appreciated, as a fresh-faced youth, having all the facts presented to him without emotion, allowing him to formulate his views without external pressure or influence. With that, I acknowledge Flinders University's outstanding contribution to our state and convey my personal congratulations on this very significant 50^th anniversary milestone.

The Hon. J.S. LEE (18:02): I would like to thank all the honourable members who made contributions in support of Flinders University's 50^th anniversary. Particularly, I would like to thank the Hon. Stephen Wade who actually made a fantastic tribute to the many achievements of his wife, Tracey. It is great to see that love and respect actually exist in parliament. That is a wonderful contribution. Thank you, the Hon. Stephen Wade.

I would also like to thank the Hon. Tammy Franks for highlighting some of the challenges faced by the Flinders University, particularly about leadership, remuneration, fairness and equity. I would like to thank her for her contribution. I would also like to thank the Hon. Tung Ngo for his contribution and particularly for his acknowledgement of the Tonsley facility's contribution to the university's role in the international arena. Thank you, the Hon. Tung Ngo. With those closing remarks, I commend the motion to the chamber.

Motion carried.