Shorten blames federal policies for his uni’s financial woes, job cuts

Julie HareEducation editor

Feb 21, 2025 – 5.02pm

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Bill Shorten has put partial blame for the University of Canberra’s woeful financial position on federal government policies that cut international students and redirected domestic students into TAFE courses.

Shorten, who took the reins as the university’s vice chancellor in January, told an ACT Legislative Assembly standing committee that 191 jobs would be cut by the end of the year as a result of fewer students than expected.

Julie Hare is the Education editor. She has more than 20 years’ experience as a writer, journalist and editor.