The Australian Catholic University recently announced plans to shut down its successful Dianoia Institute of Philosophy and make its academics redundant, citing budget deficits. However, staff argue the deficits are due to bloated spending on consultants and executive salaries, not research expenses. No job is secure in Australian universities due to neoliberal reforms dating back to the 1980s that have concentrated power in unaccountable vice-chancellors and boards. The current vice-chancellor at ACU earns over $1 million annually and seems intent on slashing research staff and institutes. While cuts to research are justified as necessary due to a $38 million deficit, spending on consultants has risen to $10 million annually.

The article highlights how neoliberal governance structures in Australian universities have led to a race to bottom by prioritizing surpluses through fees while cutting costs like jobs.

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