CDU’s annual report reveals Vice-Chancellor took major pay cut in 2019

THE head of Charles Darwin University took a substantial pay cut in 2019 amid one of the institution’s worst financial years in recent history

CDU Vice-Chancellor Simon Maddocks took a substantial pay cut in 2019

THE head of Charles Darwin University took a substantial pay cut in 2019 amid one of the institution’s worst financial years in recent history.

CDU’s latest annual report showed Vice-Chancellor Simon Maddocks downgraded from a pay of between $615,000 and $629,000 in 2018 to a salary of between $550,000 and $564,000 in 2019.

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Since Prof Maddocks became Vice-Chancellor in March 2014, his highest pay was between $645,000 and $649,999 in 2016 according to previous annual reports.

In April Prof Maddocks took another pay cut of 20 per cent until the end of the year to assist the university financially during the coronavirus pandemic.

In an email to staff Prof Maddocks said CDU would implement financial strategies to assist the university through the crisis.

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“If we are going to have to implement such measures, it is only fair that it should start with senior leadership,” he said in the email.

He said members of the Executive Leadership Group also agreed to take a short-term salary cut of between 10 per cent and 15 per cent.

Last July the university was revealed to be in dire financial straits after it recorded a $21 million deficit in 2018, crippled by shrinking revenues from lower than expected student enrolments.

Prof Maddocks and the NT Government also pointed the finger at the Commonwealth Government for CDU’s struggles, claiming the 2017 cap on the Commonwealth Grant Scheme hurt the university.

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CDU’s financial position led it to propose and introduce major overhauls to the College of Nursing and Midwifery, its library staff and Vocational Education and Training Sector (VET).

The proposed changes to VET, which were put on hold due to COVID-19, included the axing of 35 qualifications and 16 permanent staff.

While the university managed to reduce its $21 million deficit, CDU is estimated to plunge into a more than $20 million deficit from the coronavirus pandemic.

The latest annual report however said the extent of COVID-19’s financial impact would not be known until after semester two.