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Prime Minister Scott Morrison . Picture : Sam Mooy / Getty Images
Tudge to the top
PM defends appointment of new Education Minister .
By Richard Garfield and NCA Newswire
The Prime Minister has defended his decision to promote
Alan Tudge to the position of Education and Youth Minister last month as part of a cabinet reshuffle .
Scott Morrison said Tudge , whose affair with a female staffer was aired on Four Corners , spent the past year juggling the role of Urban Infrastructure Minister , the immigration portfolio and the issues raised in the ABC report .
“ What has impressed me about Alan is he ’ s dealt with these issues honestly ,” Morrison said .
“ They relate to things that happened some years ago … he ’ s accepted responsibility for his own personal conduct .”
Morrison rejected claims the new role was a step up for Tudge saying it was a “ reassignment of portfolio ”.
Tudge will be supported by Liberal MP Luke Howarth who was given a new assistant ministry position that will also provide assistance to Employment Minister Michaelia Cash .
Education Minister Dan Tehan will now follow in the footsteps of Senator Birmingham and take on the trade portfolio .
Labor ’ s shadow education minister Tanya Plibersek took to Twitter to criticise Tudge ’ s appointment .
“ From king of robodebt to king of student debt … there couldn ’ t be a worse choice for Education Minister ,” she wrote .
USyd Vice Chancellor and Principal Professor Stephen Garton thanked outgoing education minister Dan Tehan while welcoming Tudge to the role .
“ Minister Tehan always showed goodwill in his dealings with us and was prepared to listen to our concerns about the future of the higher education sector in Australia , especially in relation to ongoing funding for research ,” Garton said .
" We look forward to working closely with the new Minister for Education , Alan Tudge , to ensure our sector is able to continue encouraging and inspiring a new generation of students ," Garton said . ■
UTAS ' Jill Bye and chancellor Michael Field . Picture : Nikki Davis-Jones
UTAS ‘ sorry ’
Uni apologises for ‘ failures ’ during Rathjen tenure .
The University of Tasmania has
released the findings of a review into complaints about the workplace under Professor Peter Rathjen ’ s leadership .
UTAS commissioned barrister Maree Norton to explore the 11 complaints it received – three of which related directly to the former vice-chancellor . The remainder related to workplace culture more broadly .
The investigation was carried out in response to an investigation by the South
Australian Independent Commissioner Against Corruption ( ICAC ) that found Rathjen engaged in unwanted and unwelcome sexual behaviour with two women employed by the university .
Professor Rufus Black , vice-chancellor of UTAS , alerted staff of the ICAC findings shortly after they were released .
Black said his university ' s own investigation into Rathjen ’ s behaviour up to the release of the ICAC investigation findings determined that there was no known evidence of sexual harassment or sexual assault during his tenure there , but invited staff or students to share experiences related to Rathjen ’ s time as vice-chancellor .
The university said themes in the complaints unpacked in the subsequent review included sexual misconduct , bullying , discrimination and failures in complaints systems and handling .
Its council issued a formal apology to victims and survivors from the period . Chancellor Michael Field said the university would accept and implement each of the recommendations arising from the review by July 1 , 2021 .
Among them were changes surrounding better protections for people vulnerable through power imbalances , targeted training around unacceptable behaviours for the council and executive leaders , and new governance arrangements to ensure people could feel safe in bypassing senior management to report concerns .
“ This review has highlighted that as an institution we failed in these responsibilities . Our systems and processes in place at the time were not effective in protecting people .
“ We are deeply sorry for all the distress these failures have caused . To each person affected : I am very sorry .”
University chief people officer Jill Bye clarified that the review was not a formal investigation into individual complaints .
“ This was an investigation into the university and its handling of issues that arose at the time . As a result , the specific complaints have not been put to anyone but should anyone who came forward wishes to pursue a complaint , they will be supported to do so .
“ We are sorry for what has happened and we will demonstrate our respect by using their experiences to build a better organisation .” ■
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