The Australian National University here in Canberra has warned staff and students that it will collapse financially without major intervention. The ANU is staring down an 850-million-dollar cost blow-out by next year an says it will cut jobs, salaries and entire colleges to stay afloat.
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00:00It's not quite exam season, but ANU has revealed it's facing a serious test.
00:09We're not on a sustainable financial footing and we're spending more than we are earning.
00:14It started with a $400 million deficit from 2020 to 2023.
00:20This year's projected shortfall is another $200 million.
00:24And if nothing changes, the uni could be in the red by $850 million next year.
00:30Council has directed us to reduce our annual cost base by $250 million by the 1st of January
00:362026.
00:37$100 million of that will come from staff salaries, while the College of Health and
00:42Medicine will also close, making 50 jobs redundant.
00:46The fear of future change management plans that they're hinting at is also pretty shocking
00:52and concerning for staff on the ground.
00:54The uni is blaming the state of its books on changes to government policy, including
00:59international student caps.
01:01We'd repeat our call for the Education Minister, Jason Clare, to introduce some sort of transition
01:07funding arrangement so that universities don't lose out.
01:10ANU says it'll become smaller and better, but students aren't buying it.
01:16Realistically what's happened is class sizes have gotten bigger and it's become harder
01:20for staff to be able to teach as effectively as they would like and our education has suffered
01:24as a result.
01:25The Vice-Chancellor didn't take questions from staff during this morning's webinar and
01:30declined requests to speak with the media.
01:32It means staff and students are left with many questions, including whether the uni's
01:37top salaries will be trimmed.
01:40There are 82 staff at this university that are paid over $300,000 and 12 that we know
01:44of that are paid over $500,000.
01:46Executives get paid way too much, in my opinion.
01:49I think if there's ever a place to look to, to recoup costs and get savings, then they
01:53could certainly cut their own salaries.
01:55Consultation with staff will begin later this month.