UC Vice-Chancellor Bill Shorten revives push to merge with major TAFE provider
The former Labor leader says the proposal is not motivated by redundancies or cost-cutting, but instead promises job security and opportunities.
University of Canberra Vice-Chancellor Bill Shorten has reignited calls for a merger between his institution and the Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT). CIT recently experienced upheaval when its CEO Margot McNeill resigned. Shorten argues that the time is right for the merger, as the two separate post-school organisations in Canberra may no longer be sensible.
While there is no set timeline, the ACT government has not yet made a decision on the matter. Shorten denies the move is about cost-cutting and believes the merger would provide job security and opportunities for staff. ACT Skills, Training and Industrial Relations Minister Michael Pettersson has welcomed the proposal, noting that the current CIT arrangements lack confidence and that a governance review is underway.
However, Pettersson has not endorsed the merger and emphasized the board's independence and legal processes surrounding CEO McNeill's $445,000 settlement.
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