A broken university system is letting Australia down
Poor governance, poor policy and decades of neoliberalism have broken Australia’s university sector, with devastating consequences for students and the country.
On this episode of Follow the Money, Richard Denniss and Ebony Bennett discuss the lack of accountability in Australia’s universities, why some institutions’ claims of financial crises aren’t supported by their auditors, and what Australians think about the state of the sector.
Aiming Higher: Universities and Australia’s future by Professor George Williams is available now via Australia Institute Press.
Guest: Richard Denniss, co-CEO, the Australia Institute // @richarddenniss
Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett
Show notes:
Australians believe universities are too expensive and not doing their job: polling, the Australia Institute (November 2025)
There is no financial crisis at the University of Newcastle: new analysis, the Australia Institute (October 2025)
The ANU’s hidden $90m budget surplus, the Australia Institute (October 2025)
Failing the test: Australian universities in crisis, Follow the Money, the Australia Institute (May 2025)
Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot Sessions
We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.
Between the Lines Newsletter
The biggest stories and the best analysis from the team at the Australia Institute, delivered to your inbox every fortnight.
You might also like
Bell’s departure is overdue, but this crisis is not all her fault. Here’s why
Genevieve Bell, vice-chancellor of the Australian National University (ANU), has announced her resignation. Many will welcome this news.
While university leaders zip around the world, consultants are creating twin crises on Australian campuses
University leaders are keeping their institutions in the news for all the wrong reasons. Yesterday, it was University of Technology Sydney’s (UTS) turn for a round of bad press.
While Uni Vice-Chancellors rake in millions, young researchers struggle to survive
Australia’s university Vice-Chancellors are among the highest paid in the world, while Australia’s PhD students are some of the lowest paid. That is not a sign of a healthy education system.