Greens call for UoW managers to end all donations to Liberal Party coffers

Commenting on reports that representatives of the University of Wollongong have paid to attend Liberal Party fundraisers, Greens spokesperson for higher education Senator Lee Rhiannon said:

“University of Wollongong’s senior managers should come clean the thousands of dollars that have flowed to the Liberal Party from the university – and several of its university-controlled entities.

“It’s disturbing to see the University of Wollongong using public funding and student contributions to attend Liberal Party fundraisers and events. This is clearly an inappropriate use of funds.

“The Greens are calling on the University of Wollongong’s management to fully disclose the extent of the political donations and to pledge not to attend further party fundraisers.

“Senior managers are making their action look even worse by trying to justify attending Liberal fundraisers. They have clearly contributed to Liberal Party finances when they paid to attend. 

“Such actions can lead to public backlash and cynicism about university management.

“The Greens join the National Tertiary Education Union in expressing our shock at these revelations. Universities as publicly-funded institutions cannot justify donating to political parties.

“The UoW Vice Chancellor and other senior managers can make appointments to meet with political party leaders. They would know that they do not need to pay for such meetings.”