University keeps details of record v-c payout under wraps

The cash-strapped University of Canberra has refused to share details of the circumstances that made its former vice-chancellor the most expensive university leader in Australian history.

Paddy Nixon’s 2023 earnings of about A$1.8 million (£926,000) were disclosed seven months after he left Canberra with more than a year remaining on his contract.

The university has refused to divulge details of his remuneration. Chancellor Lisa Paul, a former secretary of the federal Department of Education and Training, said that Professor Nixon had “received payment as per contractual arrangements” and that “vice-chancellor salary and entitlements are confidentially negotiated with the university council”.

Canberra has now refused a Freedom of Information request for access to documentation that could throw light on his record earnings.

The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) sought council minutes and papers relevant to Professor Nixon’s remuneration around the time of his arrival in 2020 and his departure last December.

It also requested copies of his employment contract and any deed of release, non-disclosure arrangement or other written agreement concerning his departure, records of payments to and by Professor Nixon at the time, and documentation related to any investigation or suspension.

In a letter to Lachlan Clohesy, secretary of the union’s Australian Capital Territory (ACT) division, the university’s FoI officer said she had identified six “categories” of relevant documents but refused to release any of them “because they contain contrary to the public interest information”.

She also refused to confirm or deny the existence of any written agreement connected with Professor Nixon’s departure, or documentation related to any investigation or suspension. Doing so would not be in the public interest and could unreasonably limit human rights, the letter says.

Neighbouring institutions are less opaque. The Australian National University, whose Nobel laureate vice-chancellor Brian Schmidt also finished up in 2023, reported his final-year earnings as A$852,242, including A$718,603 in base salary, A$113,501 in superannuation and A$20,138 in long-service leave. The university reported the remuneration of eight other executives in similar detail.

If Ms Paul still headed the Education Department, her pay would also be common knowledge. The Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Rule requires detailed disclosure of payments to key federal government executives. Tony Cook, who became department secretary in April 2023, earned A$633,505 that financial year.

Dr Clohesy said the NTEU was likely to appeal the FoI decision because of the “clear public interest issues” involved. “At a time when universities are struggling for funding, staff are sick of millionaire vice-chancellors stripping out money for their own personal benefit before moving on and leaving significant problems in their wake,” he said.

The FoI officer said revealing the existence of a suspension, deed of release or investigation “would reveal private information about Professor Nixon’s employment and the circumstances of his departure”, contravening principles of the ACT’s Information Privacy Act.

The identified documents include an employment agreement, four records of payments, minutes of the university’s senior appointments committee, and briefing papers for council meetings in April 2020 and October 2023.

Canberra has since warned that it faces a deficit of between A$33 million and A$36 million this year, far above the A$26 million shortfall expected. Lucy Johnston, who served as interim vice-chancellor after Professor Nixon’s departure, described the university’s financial prospects as “scary”.

john.ross@timeshighereducation.com