On Thursday 22nd May, the activist group Stop Western Sydney University (WSU) Cuts held a protest at the WSU Parramatta South campus to protest against the administration’s decision to cut 400 full-time staff positions.
This amounts to around 10 per cent of WSU’s total workforce and is a major blow to WSU’s academic standing. WSU reported a $79 million deficit in the 2023-24 financial year, which they have used to justify these cuts. Vice-Chancellor George Williams has faced criticism for the cuts, and attempted to address the deficit by reducing his salary from $1 million to $800,000.
The protest was convened by Keira, who spoke first about the significance of the cuts for WSU staff and students. She asked, “Why did we have to find out about [these cuts] from the media instead of our own university? Like you, George, we, the people, demand honesty on how you plan to degrade our education.”
The first speaker was Alex Carsten, a member of the Parramatta Greens and Stop WSU Cuts. He spoke on behalf of Liz Tilley, leader of the Parramatta Greens, saying that “When education is treated as a for-profit industry, students lose out, staff lose out, and society loses out.”
Keira added, “I think it is absolutely horrendous that here at WSU there are 15 executive members that are paid more than the state premier — $415,000 — not to mention our own Vice-Chancellor George Williams, who is on a salary of $800,000.
“To say that in this cost of living crisis and this housing crisis, that staff that work at this university should be thrown out and made to fend for themselves… is an absolute disgrace.”
The second speaker was Julia, a WSU student from the Campbelltown campus. She spoke about an article that Vice-Chancellor George Williams published six months ago titled “A University, Not a Corporation”. She commented, “One thing he does get right in it is that we have the highest number of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds of any Australian university.”
Julia added that there had been speculations that WSU would cut entire campuses in order to address their deficit. She spoke about the injustice of shutting down the Law Building at the Campbelltown campus during the pandemic. “Look how law students now have to travel all the way to Parramatta… what a gross misuse of resources.”
She quoted William’s article, which read “We must be relatable, approachable, transparent, and honest.” Julia continued, “If this was the case, why did you try to do this under our noses? If this was the case, why did we have to find out about this from the media and not a public announcement from the uni? … We, the people, demand transparency on how you intend to tear away people’s livelihoods. We, the people, demand honesty on how you plan to degrade our education!”
Keira spoke again to recount the testimony of an international student who had lodged in WSU student accommodation in Milpera, only to be told that her accommodation would be demolished. This student then had to move to other accommodation in Campbelltown, forcing her to travel four hours a day just to get to her classes. The university had sold off student accommodation and the entire Milpera campus to make way for private housing.
Keira said, “They prioritise profit over people, choosing commercial gain rather than investing in the wellbeing of their students.
“This wasn’t about modernisation or efficiency. It was about handing over education spaces and facilities in private hands… The message was clear: you are a student and you are not cared for. It was humiliating and destabilising… I had to pack up my life and search for housing in a rental market that I couldn’t afford… Being evicted made me feel disposable, like I was just a number on a spreadsheet.”
Keira continued, “Just like students were kicked out for a dollar, now staff are being shown the door. These are the people who make this university what it is. Cutting 400 jobs isn’t just a number, it’s a betrayal.
“It means bigger class sizes, less feedback, and more overworked staff. It hurts education, it hurts workers, and it sends a clear message: your value here is financial, not human. And we refuse to accept that!”
The final speaker was a WSU student named Gina. She said, “We reject that students and staff should have to sacrifice for the business model that got us here. WSU is not poor. WSU has money.
“WSU’s Vice Chancellor, George Williams, is on a salary of $800,000. That is more than the Australian Prime Minister. And he’s tried to claim he’s making a big sacrifice from [sic] going from a million to $800,000.
“At the same time as WSU say they have no money for staff, they are finding money to build a state-of-the-art university offshore in India, which they justify because they say this will make revenue. This is disgraceful. Universities are not supposed to make revenue, universities are supposed to provide an education.”
Keira wrapped up the protest by talking about the WSU slogan, “unlimited opportunities”, and the hypocrisy behind it. “We ask [who is] this for, the students who are being evicted from their accommodation so the university would make millions? For the staff who are being forced out of work? No, it’s [an] unlimited opportunity for the people who sit in this building right behind us [the Vice Chancellor’s office] for hundreds of thousands of dollars while our university and our staff are cut. Shame!”
The speakers finished the protest by chanting, “The only cut I want to see is George Williams’ salary!”
