Stop The Uni Merger

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A university merger would be bad for students, bad for staff and bad for Western Australia.

The WA State Government is further progressing plans that could see Curtin University, the University of Western Australia and Murdoch University merged into one mega institution. This would be the biggest restructure of higher education in WA's history, threatening jobs, reducing student choice and causing years of costly disruption.

Our universities have unique and distinct strengths, courses, entry pathways, research priorities and communities. These differences mean Western Australians have genuine choice over where and how they study. A merger would concentrate decision-making, …

A university merger would be bad for students, bad for staff and bad for Western Australia.

The WA State Government is further progressing plans that could see Curtin University, the University of Western Australia and Murdoch University merged into one mega institution. This would be the biggest restructure of higher education in WA's history, threatening jobs, reducing student choice and causing years of costly disruption.

Our universities have unique and distinct strengths, courses, entry pathways, research priorities and communities. These differences mean Western Australians have genuine choice over where and how they study. A merger would concentrate decision-making, put courses and services at risk, and undermine the diversity that makes higher education accessible to people with different needs and circumstances.

The cost could exceed $1 billion. Based on the experience of university mergers elsewhere in Australia, WA could spend an enormous amount on consultants, restructures, branding and systems changes, without addressing the real challenges facing higher education. Instead, this money could be spent on actually supporting students. Cost of living relief, give our teaching staff job security by ending staff casualisation, make student housing affordable and increasing opportunities for regional students would all do far more to improve our tertiary education over a merger.

The Government should be removing barriers to education, not removing students' choices. Western Australia does not need fewer universities. We need stronger, better-funded universities that serve students, staff and the communities that depend on them.

This merger is not a done deal, and now is the time to speak up.

We're bringing students, staff, graduates and the wider community together to oppose this proposal and protect the independence of Curtin, UWA and Murdoch.

Send an email to your MP today. Tell them why our universities matter to you and ask them to oppose this costly and unnecessary merger. Together, we can show the State Government that Western Australians want investment in education, not a billion-dollar restructure.

Learn more, join the campaign and stay up to date with upcoming actions at stoptheunimerger.au.

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Tell Your MP: Stop the Uni Merger

469 emails sent

Tell your local MP to stand up for students, protect university choice and oppose the proposed merger of Curtin, UWA and Murdoch.

Find your local rep

Subject:

I am writing to express my strong opposition to the Western Australian Government's proposed merger of Curtin University, the University of Western Australia and Murdoch University.

I do not believe this merger is in the best interests of Western Australia, our students, university staff or the communities these institutions serve.

A merger would be the biggest restructure of higher education in WA's history, risking course cuts, job losses, fewer choices and years of disruption. It would fundamentally reshape our universities, with students, staff and communities left dealing with the consequences.

Choice in higher education matters. Curtin, UWA and Murdoch are all different institutions, with distinct strengths, cultures, courses, teaching approaches, entry pathways and university communities. These differences give Western Australians genuine options to find an education that suits their needs, circumstances and aspirations. A merger would replace three independent universities with one enormous institution, concentrating decision-making and reducing the alternatives available to students. For people who cannot afford to relocate or study interstate, those choices are particularly important. Reducing them risks making higher education less accessible and less responsive to the diverse needs of our communities.

Staff cuts will damage WA's education system. Fewer staff means greater workloads, less individual support, slower feedback and fewer resources for teaching, research and student services. Years of institutional restructuring would divert attention away from what universities should be doing: educating students, supporting staff and delivering research that benefits our state.

A merger of Curtin, UWA and Murdoch would result in an institution with roughly 120,000 students; the largest in Australia. Resources are already spread thin at each university, with large waiting periods for academic, accessibility and mental health support services. More students and less staff will only mean resources will be spread thinner, wait times will grow and students won’t get the timely support they need to succeed.

The merger could also cost Western Australia more than $1 billion, judging by the experience of recent Australian university mergers. That money should be invested in education, research, affordable student housing, student support and better facilities, not consultants, rebranding, bureaucracy and restructures.

WA does not need fewer universities. We need stronger, better-funded universities. The Government has not demonstrated why the challenges facing higher education cannot be addressed through investment, cooperation and targeted reform without sacrificing the independence of three major public institutions.

The Government should be removing barriers to education, not removing students' choices.

As my elected representative, I am asking you to publicly oppose this merger, call on the State Government to abandon the proposal and stand up for the future of higher education in Western Australia.

I would appreciate a response outlining your position and what action you will take.

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