Victorian universities dodge transparency through FOI abuse

National Tertiary Education Union

Victorian universities are routinely abusing Freedom of Information laws to hide executive salaries and contracts with fossil fuel and weapons companies.

A National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) dossier reveals universities are taking up to 216 days to respond to FOI requests that legally require 30-day responses, while repeatedly refusing to release information that should be public.

The union, working with Victorian Greens MP Aiv Puglielli, applied to all eight Victorian universities for information on executive pay arrangements and contracts with fossil fuel companies, weapons manufacturers and foreign militaries.

The results expose a culture of secrecy:

Universities took an average of 216 days to respond to salary requests and 127 days for contract requests - despite the legal 30-day requirement
Three universities refused all salary information; five refused all contract information
Released documents were heavily redacted

"Victorian universities are demonstrating how the Freedom of Information Act has become the Freedom from Information Act, shielding public institutions from transparency," said NTEU Victorian Assistant Secretary Professor Joo-Cheong Tham.

"As the University Chancellors Council emphasises, public universities are subject to 'high standards of transparency and accountability'. They're failing these standards."

Professor Tham said the pattern of refusals and delays highlighted both universities' failure on public accountability and fundamental weaknesses in Victoria's FOI laws.

"Rather than pro-actively releasing information of public interest, universities are fighting tooth and nail against disclosure. Fundamental reform of the Freedom of Information Act is essential for Victoria's democracy."

Contact: Matt Coughlan 0400 561 480 / [email protected]