University merger: Premier Peter Malinauskas warns of ‘holdback mentality’

The Premier says it would be “extraordinary” if parliament even considered blocking the merger of the universities of Adelaide and South Australia.

Premier Peter Malinauskas is declaring the looming university merger decision a test of the state’s resolve to make bold decisions for the future or slump into a “holdback mentality”.

Ahead of a weekend deadline for a decision on combining the universities of Adelaide and South Australia, Mr Malinauskas insisted blocking any merger would be “an extraordinary thing” for parliament to even consider.

Under sustained questioning from Opposition Leader David Speirs, Mr Malinauskas said the state legislation required to effect a merger would be an opportunity to scrutinise the plan and warned against the consequences of rejection if both universities wanted to proceed.

“It also will be an important test for everybody in this parliament – an important test of whether or not we are committed to making the bold decisions into the future that set the state up for the long term, whether or not we’re going to only contemplate the sort of holdback mentality that could deprive a new institution being formed in a way that they both want,” he said.

“ That would be an extraordinary thing for people in this place to actively consider doing.”

University of Adelaide vice-chancellor and president Professor Peter Hoj, Premier Peter Malinauskas, University of South Australia vice-chancellor and president Professor David Lloyd. Meeting in room at South Australia Suite at the 2022 VALO Adelaide 500. Picture: Paul Starick

The Advertiser on Monday revealed the historic merger would be decided within days by separate meetings of both councils ahead of a July 1 deadline.

It is understood Mr Malinauskas will be told of the councils’ decisions ahead of a formal announcement scheduled for this weekend.

Under last December’s deal, a combined institution known as Adelaide University would instantly become the nation’s largest for domestic students when it started operating from January, 2026, backed by “significant” state government funding aimed at forging one of the world’s top 50 universities within a decade.

Asked by Mr Speirs about the key benefits as opposed to the status quo, Mr Malinauskas listed twin objectives of increasing research and improving accessibility.

“If we can improve both accessibility of the university but also improve the volume of research that is undertaken in our state, then we are on a trajectory to improve the economic complexity of South Australia,” he said.

“That means better jobs. Better jobs means better pay and more secure work. They are the principal aims of the policy.”

Inking a university merger agreement on December 6, 2022 are UniSA chancellor Pauline Carr, Deputy Premier Susan Close, Governor Frances Adamson, Premier Peter Malinauskas, University of Adelaide chancellor Catherine Branson (l-r front) UniSA vice-chancellor David Lloyd and University of Adelaide vice-chancellor Peter Hoj. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

Asked by Mr Speirs about cost-benefit analyses that had informed the government’s policy, Mr Malinauskas said both universities had prepared business cases and actively consulted ahead of their councils’ decision, which the government awaited.

Asked whether the government would independently review this analysis, Mr Malinauskas did not directly respond but said the “pieces of work” were owned by the universities, not the government.

Treasurer Stephen Mullighan, in response to another Opposition question, said his June 15 state budget had been prepared with “sufficient room to make a contribution to the universities in the event that they should agree amongst themselves to pursue a merger”.