- Posted on 9 Dec 2025
We will always respect and listen to the views of our staff.
However, the integrity of a vote managed by the NTEU on the Vice Chancellor’s leadership is highly questionable.
Some staff who tried to vote found that their email address had already been used, effectively locking them out of the voting process and raising serious concerns about potential voter fraud, where votes may have been cast using other people’s email addresses.
It is not clear whether there was any way of ensuring only staff voted.
Such an opaque and unregulated poll raises serious questions.
We have raised these serious concerns with the NTEU who advised that “it is inevitable that mistakes will be made, such as by people forgetting they have already voted”. This is a farcical response.
It is disappointing that the NTEU has chosen to grandstand rather than work collaboratively to find viable solutions to the very real financial challenges the university is facing.
These tactics are in stark contrast to the approach from staff who have engaged in the change process, given thoughtful ideas and worked constructively to help find solutions to build a stronger UTS. Their feedback is influencing the outcomes and next steps.
The challenges we are facing can be difficult and emotional, especially for a purpose-driven community like ours.
The entire UTS leadership, including the Vice Chancellor, are working hard to address the challenges and make the best decisions, strategic and financial, for our future.
They are grateful for the many expressions of support they continue to receive and will keep working with our staff and wider community to make sure this university continues to thrive and deliver benefits to the communities we serve.
The university has raised serious concerns with the ABC at the mischaracterisation in their reporting of the vote representing the views of 95% of all staff.