Alison Barnes
- Reposted by Alison Barnes🙌 Happy New Year! Start the year protected, connected, and organised. Join NTEU members making 2026 about better workplaces and better universities: nteu.au/join
- Reposted by Alison Barnes2025 proved what we can achieve together. 2026 is about going further. 👉 Be part of something bigger. Join NTEU today: nteu.au/join
- Reposted by Alison BarnesAfter breakthroughs over wage theft, university governance and much more this year, no wonder NTEU members were keen to celebrate! If you missed the party at Trades Hall last week - no worries - come next year! Become a member: nteu.info/joinnteu #HigherEducation @vthc.org.au #HigherEd #AcademicSky
- Reposted by Alison BarnesThe union-run vote comes as controversial, consultant-designed redundancies continue and politicians call for resignations.
- “Professor Parfitt has admitted that elements of this plan were absolutely not in the public good, and were pursued in such a callous way that SafeWork NSW ordered a prohibition order due to what was deemed as a serious and imminent risk of psychological harm.” Sarah Kaine MLC
- Calls grow for the resignation of UTS vice-chancellor Andrew Parfitt, who knew of the KPMG-produced list targeting ‘underperforming’ staff even as his office denied it existed. Read more: satpa.pe/44U2gvY
- Reposted by Alison BarnesWhat do you want from Santa this Christmas? Casie and Johanna from Baker Institute want more NTEU members! Join NTEU: nteu.info/joinnteu #HigherEd #HigherEducation #Union #academiclife #AcademicSky @damiencahill.bsky.social @alisonbarnes.bsky.social @nteunion.bsky.social
- Reposted by Alison Barnes📣 An extra 9,500 domestic university places will be available next year. “Students are entitled to the best education, and we need more staff providing pastoral care in our classrooms rather than seeing thousands of job losses.” - alisonbarnes.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEGJ...
- Reposted by Alison Barnes📣 Calling all university staff and students 📣 Our universities are growing – but what does that mean for teaching, learning and student support? Take our short survey (5–10 mins) today: nteu.info/classes
- This is the third parliamentary inquiry into uni governance - federal, NSW, now Victoria. NTEU members have exposed the damning evidence: $280m+ wage theft, outrageous exec pay, toxic cultures, corporate-stacked boards. We're winning government action. www.premier.vic.gov.au/putting-stud...
- Reposted by Alison BarnesMAJOR UNION WIN 🥳 The federal government will implement a new set of university governance principles to strengthen accountability, transparency and public trust following recommendations from the Expert Council on University Governance. Read more: nteu.info/majorwin @alisonbarnes.bsky.social
- This damning report is really worth reading and the language of the authors’ criticism of uni executives and their failure to acknowledge the governance crisis is uncharacteristically strong.
- The Expert Council on University Governance has delivered its recommendations – the depth of the crisis in our universities is clear. Thank you to every member who attended meetings, presented evidence, and stood up for better universities. Read the report 👉 betterunis.nteu.au/inquiry/
- Wish I could talk about the teaching and research achievements of our members but nonetheless was great to join former colleague Sue Wright, debunking the excuses of the vice-chancellors’ lobby group for management’s bad decisions www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...
- Reposted by Alison BarnesIt has taken time to get university governance on the public radar. Our sector has experienced casualisation, wage theft, & mass job cuts. @nteunion.bsky.social, especially @alisonbarnes.bsky.social, have been great at going after the root cause - the leadership & governance crisis in higher ed.
- Much attention has been on ANU but the governance crisis is broad and deep across the sector. Close scrutiny needs to be applied *everywhere*. This is shameful from UTS management.
- University of Technology Sydney ordered a spreadsheet from KPMG targeting individual academics by research income, which might contravene the bargaining agreement. They repeatedly denied it even existed for several info requests. But that wasn't true. www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/educati...
- The Senate inquiry’s interim recommendations are a massive win for @NTEUnion members’ campaign for governance reform. Transparency, caps on VC pay, stronger staff/student voices & tougher TEQSA powers – all welcome steps. There’s more to fight for!
- This devastating plan is a disaster for the community and represents a direct attack on the core mission of UTS. www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
- Go Barnsey 🎸🎸🎸 www.afr.com/work-and-car...
- Reposted by Alison BarnesBishop needs to go as well. There is no sensible governance arrangement where she gets to lead appointing a new VC. A new Chancellor / Chair and then a deep breath followed by a proper process to appoint a new VC / CEO needed. www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09...
- Reposted by Alison Barnes"A completely broken governance system has allowed unaccountable executives to cause enormous damage to staff, students and communities" - Alison Barnes, NTEU National President @alisonbarnes.bsky.social @nteunion.bsky.social #ANU region.com.au/genevieve-be...
- Extraordinary for uni bosses to suggest they have no control over the bottom line. Yes, the government needs to scrap Jobs Ready Graduates and replace it. But vice-chancellors must own $734m on consultants in a single year and the executive pay explosion! www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09...
- Reposted by Alison Barnes[This post could not be retrieved]
- Reposted by Alison BarnesIn the last two years, ANU leadership has taken an approach of moving fast and breaking things. Unfortunately, too many of those things were people. Very proud of @nteunion.bsky.social members at #ANU. Now to lock in no forced redundancies. ✊
- More details, including @nteunion.bsky.social statement, to follow. Join the union today at www.nteu.au/join.
- With @NTEUnion members at Victorian Parliament to speak with government MPs about the university governance crisis and the need for reform. Thanks to everyone who shared their horror stories with the MPs including Deputy Premier and Education Minister @BenCarrollMP.
- Reposted by Alison BarnesVice chancellors' decision to cut jobs while defending their excessive pay further erodes our public institutions and undermines trust in university governance. Let's stand together for better universities 👉 betterunis.nteu.au 📰Read in full here: www.news.com.au/national/nsw...
- Reposted by Alison Barnes“Replacing the ANU vice chancellor is a necessary first step… But it is not a sufficient step… If governance and policy direction doesn’t change, it won’t matter who sits in the vice chancellor’s chair – the outcomes for staff, students and the public will be the same.” www.afr.com/work-and-car...
- At today’s Senate inquiry hearing, VCs spent more time complaining about “compliance costs” than showing contrition for the governance crisis. They want to sack hundreds of staff, hiding behind false narratives instead of owning their disastrous workforce planning. www.news.com.au/national/nsw...
- Reposted by Alison Barnes🎙️LIVE NOW🎙️ Hear from VCs in Sydney at the Senate Inquiry into university governance: www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfKv...
- Reposted by Alison BarnesAustralian universities are a shit show and university managements who listen to corporate consultancy grifters are to blame. My latest in the @theguardian.com. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
- Reposted by Alison Barnes“If the most prestigious university in Australia will not fund our most prestigious literary journal, then it makes you question whether or not universities actually care about Australian culture.” johnmenadue.com/post/2025/09...
- Reposted by Alison BarnesMeanwhile, keep up the pressure for change by signing our petition. www.megaphone.org.au/petitions/pe...
- Reposted by Alison BarnesWe'll be ready to work with interim leadership from Day 1 to end Renew ANU and stop *all* forced redundancies. This is only possible with new leadership. @nteunion.bsky.social - and everyone else - knows that the farce at #ANU has gone on for far too long.
- Vice-chancellors will face the Senate inquiry into university governance on Monday. They have very serious questions to answer about shocking governance failures on their watch. So far we've seen no meaningful action from VCs to fix governance. Reform is urgent.
- 💰💰💰https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/university-boss-got-a-240k-pay-rise-over-three-years-20250902-p5mrth
- Reposted by Alison BarnesReckless Restructures A workplace safety watchdog has intervened to pause a restructure at the University of Technology Sydney due to concerns about its psychosocial impact on staff. With comments from @alisonbarnes.bsky.social from the @nteunion.bsky.social
- Reposted by Alison BarnesMichelle Arrow, Anna Clark and Frank Bongiorno’s co-authored piece in The Conversation. @michellearrow.bsky.social @frankbongiorno.bsky.social @ouranu.bsky.social @utsengage.bsky.social #MacquarieUniversity
- Reposted by Alison BarnesWhat a historic win! SafeWork NSW has stepped in to force UTS management to pause job cuts. This would not be possible without NTEU members at UTS standing together to voice and expose the serious and damaging psychosocial impacts on staff wellbeing. Article 👉 www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
- Reposted by Alison BarnesSafeWork NSW orders UTS to pause job cuts due to risk of ‘psychological harm’
- Our students deserve better than cuts to the courses they can study and cuts to staff who support their learning and development.
- These sudden and unnecessary course and job cuts are a symptom of the broken governance structures that overpaid and unaccountable university leaders operate under. www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
- Reposted by Alison BarnesThis is some ripe new bullshit from the cashed up grifting consultancy class cannibalising Australian universities. This is SHAMEFUL from @westernsydneyu.bsky.social. #auspol
- With founding NTEU members, branch presidents and rank and file members with their families and friends. We march for peace and to stop the genocide.
- Reposted by Alison Barnes“Universities should not be operating like Big Brother. Universities must not quietly roll out surveillance programs and only tidy up their policies once caught out.” -NTEU National President @alisonbarnes.bsky.social @nteuvictoria.bsky.social
- Reposted by Alison Barnes“It’s especially galling that La Trobe University management has used its role as a sponsor of the festival to stifle academic freedom and freedom of expression – the very principles universities are built on.” -NTEU National President @alisonbarnes.bsky.social @withmeaa.bsky.social
- The @NTEUnion has consistently called for TEQSA to be given more power to regulate governance and university leadership. This is another promising sign that our campaign to fix governance is working.
- TEQSA has now written to the ANU advising its “investigation had been expanded to include ‘broader risks to compliance’ including the culture of the ANU Council and executive leadership, and oversight of its financial position”. Good. www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08...
- The job and course cuts we are fighting against at Macquarie Uni are devastating for staff and students. Thanks to old friends and workmates for sending me their photos from their open day action.
- Reposted by Alison BarnesThe bullying allegations against ANU chancellor Julie Bishop land on top of a series of crises at the university, yet its governing council has shown little inclination to discipline or remove any key staff, writes Jason Koutsoukis reports. satpa.pe/GuH8puT
- Reposted by Alison BarnesUTS academics describe ‘culture of fear’ as enrolments put on hold for nearly a fifth of courses
- Reposted by Alison BarnesI have almost run out of things to say about the people running Australian universities www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08...
- Reposted by Alison Barnes"Ditch Bishop and Bell. Stand up for the workforce" #anu @nteunion.bsky.social www.canberratimes.com.au/story/904099...
- Reposted by Alison BarnesSomewhere in this Australian university, some well-paid HR people (and consultants, there's always consultants) thought that it was good idea to tell staff worried they might be made redundant that they should hand-wash their good undies to cope with the stress. www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08...
- Reposted by Alison Barnes‘We heard evidence today that we have [ANU] students sitting on the floors of tutorial rooms because tutorials have doubled in size…that seems to be quite a serious impact on the delivery of education.’ – Senator Marielle Smith at yesterday’s Senate Inquiry into university governance
- Reposted by Alison BarnesA great part of being union is the community of support we provide for one another in difficult times. All are welcome to show appreciation for Liz & others standing up for #ANU staff & students. If you're not yet an @nteunion.bsky.social member, join at www.nteu.au/join. ✊
- Reposted by Alison Barnes‘Our public universities have become corporatised, governed from behind closed doors by people with little connection to the daily realities of staff and students. The consequences have been catastrophic.’ Dr Alison Barnes, NTEU National President at today’s Senate Inquiry into university governance
- Reposted by Alison BarnesWith NTEU National President Dr Alison Barnes and the @nteunion.bsky.social team at Parliament to give evidence on university governance. ✊️
- Reposted by Alison BarnesSenator @mehreenfaruqi.bsky.social: ‘Does it worry you that the staff students and alumni are so dissatisfied and untrusting of governance and the university?’ Kate Witenden, ANU Chief People Officer: ‘I’m not aware of this.’ Senator Faruqi: ‘Why am I aware and you are not?’
- Reposted by Alison Barnes‘We are having a Senate Inquiry and the ANU can’t even provide a single person who is actually on Council for this inquiry.’ Senator David Pocock at today Senate Inquiry into university governance @davidpocock.bsky.social @nteuact.bsky.social
- Dr Liz Allen’s evidence today was heartbreaking, brave and infuriating. This is the devastating personal toll of broken governance. Julie Bishop must resign immediately or be sacked. t.co/O9W9nhpydN
- Solidarity to Macquarie University friends, colleagues and students rallying against job cuts that damage staff and student wellbeing and the fabric of the university. 12.00 in the central courtyard. Get along if you can!
- Reposted by Alison BarnesGreat news! The parliamentary inquiry into university governance is back on! Thanks to union members for keeping up the pressure for urgent reform. Help us build on the momentum - find out more 👉 betterunis.nteu.au/inquiry Read full media release 👉 nteu.info/m-inquiry
- Reposted by Alison Barnes“In short it would be a hammer blow to independence of research and inquiry. We entirely reject that proposal.” Read the full statement: nteu.info/envoy
- Reposted by Alison BarnesStaff and student voices are consistently ignored while leadership bodies enable insecure work, wage theft, job cuts and executive excess to flourish. Read and share our new report: nteu.info/bellcurve
- Reposted by Alison Barnes“The longer the picket line, the shorter the strike.” Good vibes at NTEU’s bargaining forum today. 🙌
- Reposted by Alison BarnesStaff at #ANU say "years of bad governance and poor strategic leadership had resulted in this situation, and now staff were being asked to pay the price." @nteunion.bsky.social agrees. Trim the top, not the talent.
- Reposted by Alison Barnes“It’s deeply shocking at a time when a university is crushing the livelihoods of a significant proportion of staff.” NTEU National President @alisonbarnes.bsky.social Join our campaign to end bad governance for good: betterunis.nteu.au Read more: www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07...
- The governance crisis at ANU is a national scandal. Julie Bishop must go. We need sector-wide reform. www.afr.com/politics/fed...
- Reposted by Alison BarnesAs universities start to operate more and more as corporations, academic freedom and the integrity of our institutions is put at risk. Join our campaign to end bad governance - for good 👉 betterunis.nteu.au
- It’s never been more critical to fight for fairer university funding. The minister’s pledge to roll out a new system is a positive step, now we need all @NTEUnion members to join our campaign in this future-defining moment.
- This unprecedented intervention is a damning indictment of the governance crisis engulfing not just ANU, but universities around the country. Such a massive win for @NTEUnion members fighting for governance reform. Time for national change! www.afr.com/work-and-car...
- Reposted by Alison BarnesThree indicators of #ANU confidence in leadership: 🟣 ANYou survey results 🟣 88% Vote No to VC cutting staff pay 🟣 95% Vote of No Confidence A chance to reset, demonstrate empathy, respect & understanding. Instead, ANU compared the @nteunion.bsky.social member vote to North Korea.
- It is likely the ANYou survey from Sept 2024 already demonstrated #ANU staff unhappiness prior to Renew ANU, which was contributed to by a poorly explained & implemented Recruitment Approval Committee process, as well as childcare closures on campus. www.canberratimes.com.au/story/899301...
- Reposted by Alison BarnesGreat to see ACT Senator @davidpocock.bsky.social putting university governance front and centre at #ANU. Very popular discussion topic for those in attendance. 👏 @nteunion.bsky.social
- Reposted by Alison Barnes“You’ve got people who’ve worked their entire lives in these disciplines, and then that knowledge is lost, which is why I think these decisions are so incredibly damaging and shortsighted.” -NTEU National President Dr Alison Barnes @alisonbarnes.bsky.social Read more: nteu.info/guardianmq
- Reposted by Alison BarnesGood read from NTEU Adelaide University Branch President Kit MacFarlane on how Australia’s public universities have become stacked with unelected members brought in from big business. Join our campaign to end bad governance for good: betterunis.nteu.au www.indailysa.com.au/news/opinion...
