Safety investigation launched at UTS over KPMG's job slashing plan
The workplace safety watchdog recently launched an investigation into UTS, issuing it with a 'notice to give information' under the Work Health and Safety Act.
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ABC News
22-07-2025
- ABC News
Uni execs rack up $140,000 on trip as staff face sack
As the cash-strapped University of Technology Sydney (UTS) prepares to sack 10 per cent of its staff, five senior executives have spent more than $140,000 on flights, accommodation and food during a trip to the USA in May, leaked documents have revealed.
ABC News
21-07-2025
- ABC News
University of Technology Sydney spends $140,000 on five executives for US alumni trip, some in business class, leaked documents show
As the cash-strapped University of Technology Sydney (UTS) prepares to sack 10 per cent of its staff, five senior executives have spent more than $140,000 on flights, accommodation and food during a trip to the USA in May, leaked documents have revealed. The documents show three of the executives flew business class with flight costs, including US domestic flights, ranging from $21,000 to $23,000 each. They include Vice-Chancellor Professor Andrew Parfitt, who is leading a cost-cutting drive called Operational Sustainability Initiative (OSI), which aims to save the university $100 million annually, as well as two senior deans. The cost breakdowns were released under freedom of information laws and then leaked to ABC News ahead of their public release. The accommodation bill for these staff totalled between $3,000 and $5,000 each. The university would not say how long the trip was, but the two main alumni events in Los Angeles and New York were two days apart. In a statement, a UTS spokesperson said alumni events were "important" and involvement of senior leaders was decided "depending on need". "The 2025 visit and functions were particularly important to nurture during a time of flux in US policies towards funding and collaboration with the higher education sector," the spokesperson said. Earlier this month, ABC News reported a union survey had revealed one third of UTS staff were suffering psychological distress, as the university prepared to axe 400 staff. OSI is being led by consultants KPMG at a cost of $5 million, which the university said was "standard practice". The leaked documents show two other executives were flown to the United States, one on economy at a cost of $7,200 and another on premium economy at a cost of $13,995. The trip was to host three alumni events including one held at sunset on the 71st floor of the Los Angeles Intercontinental and the second at New York City's historic Penn Club on "clubhouse row". A selection from the menu at Intercontinental included Humboldt fog goat cheese, bacon-wrapped sea scallops and Emmolo Sauvignon Blanc, with the total for the alumni reception hosting 30 people, and leadership dinner of 11 people, costing $13,728. The total cost of the alumni reception at the Penn Club of 44 people, and leadership lunch of 15 people, cost $12,288, and included items like blackened shrimp and seared fillet of Beef Forestiere. As well as alumni engagement, the documents said the vice-chancellor and his team engaged in "thought leadership sessions", and 12 one-on-one meetings with alumni and donors. The total cost of the food, accommodation, flights, catering, transport and food for the five staff totalled $140,119.09 according to the leaked documents. "These visits provide valuable opportunities to deepen relationships with alumni, engage with donors and partners, explore new avenues for collaboration and identify investment and partnership opportunities," the UTS spokesperson said. "They also help extend philanthropic support, benefiting both our students and the university." National Tertiary Education Union National President Dr Alison Barnes told ABC News the spending was "deeply shocking". "It's deeply shocking at a time when a university is crushing the livelihoods of a significant proportion of staff," Dr Barnes said. University governance was thrust into the spotlight earlier this year when a senate inquiry was launched to investigate transparency, accountability and effectiveness across the sector. There have also been revelations of wage theft at some institutions, with universities forced to repay hundreds of millions of dollars. It is not yet known if Senate hearings will resume later this year in the new parliament but an interim report alleged "systemic … non-compliance with workplace laws". Labor Senator Tony Sheldon, who chaired the inquiry, said the revelations about UTS came as the institution was "spending millions" on accountants to slash jobs and cut courses. "It's vital for university administrations to be thoughtful about their decisions, particularly if, like UTS, they are proposing to cut hundreds of jobs," Mr Sheldon said. "Staff are living with uncertainty, and students are being told to expect less." The university sector is currently seeking greater government funding for teaching and research with significant job losses looming at several universities. "There is no doubt that Australian universities need greater funding but when you see university executives taking business class flights, it cuts against those arguments for greater funding," Dr Barnes said. "Universities really need that cash but they need it to be spent on teaching, on learning, and student development." Australian vice-chancellors are also some of the best remunerated in the world with the average annual salary across Australia's 38 public universities now exceeding $1 million.
The Advertiser
12-07-2025
- The Advertiser
EVs may be the way to drive down everyone's power bills
Incentives for electric car owners to sell energy stored in their vehicles back to the grid could deliver a $230 million national windfall and make power cheaper for everyone. Modelling by the Electric Vehicle Council suggests a $3000 government rebate towards vehicle-to-grid, or V2G, chargers would create $4500 in downward pressure on electricity bills Australia wide. So called bi-directional technology allows energy stored in EVs during daylight hours and while power is cheap to be sold back during evening peaks. According to the research, every dollar spent supporting V2G would mean a $1.50 return through lower wholesale prices and a reduced need for additional expenditure on infrastructure. The benefit for participating EV owners would be handy too, with an extra $1000 per year in their pockets for exporting power when demand is high. The council wants V2G chargers included in the federal government's $2.3 billion home battery program and says 600,000 contributing EVs would match the output of NSW's Eraring power station operating at full capacity. There is major potential to make electricity cheaper and help stabilise the energy grid, according to CEO Julie Delvecchio. "Just as Australia became a rapid global leader in rooftop solar, we have the opportunity now to lead the charge in vehicle-to-grid uptake," she said on Saturday. "EVs can store up to five times more energy than a typical home battery." Australia is already home to more than 350,000 EVs or "giant batteries on wheels", with a high proportion garaged in middle and outer suburbia. "With some EVs now around $30,000, the up-front cost is making it more affordable for more Australians to make the switch to cheaper-to-run cars," Ms Delvecchio said. "V2G unlocks the full benefit of EV uptake in a way that helps everyone - EV owner or not." The council is calling for the home battery program to include $3000 rebates for 50,000 V2G chargers by the end of 2028 at a cost of $150 million. It calculates this would create a national benefit of more than $230 million by 2033. A study conducted by the University of Technology Sydney and iMove Co-operative Research Centre earlier this year found more than half of all Australians would like their car to double as a battery that could feed power back to the grid. However big changes would be needed to make the process easier. The high price of bi-direction chargers, persistent software issues and complicated installation processes were cited as the main issues. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency issued a V2G roadmap in February that estimated 2.6 million households could be using the technology by 2040 to support the energy grid and save money. Incentives for electric car owners to sell energy stored in their vehicles back to the grid could deliver a $230 million national windfall and make power cheaper for everyone. Modelling by the Electric Vehicle Council suggests a $3000 government rebate towards vehicle-to-grid, or V2G, chargers would create $4500 in downward pressure on electricity bills Australia wide. So called bi-directional technology allows energy stored in EVs during daylight hours and while power is cheap to be sold back during evening peaks. According to the research, every dollar spent supporting V2G would mean a $1.50 return through lower wholesale prices and a reduced need for additional expenditure on infrastructure. The benefit for participating EV owners would be handy too, with an extra $1000 per year in their pockets for exporting power when demand is high. The council wants V2G chargers included in the federal government's $2.3 billion home battery program and says 600,000 contributing EVs would match the output of NSW's Eraring power station operating at full capacity. There is major potential to make electricity cheaper and help stabilise the energy grid, according to CEO Julie Delvecchio. "Just as Australia became a rapid global leader in rooftop solar, we have the opportunity now to lead the charge in vehicle-to-grid uptake," she said on Saturday. "EVs can store up to five times more energy than a typical home battery." Australia is already home to more than 350,000 EVs or "giant batteries on wheels", with a high proportion garaged in middle and outer suburbia. "With some EVs now around $30,000, the up-front cost is making it more affordable for more Australians to make the switch to cheaper-to-run cars," Ms Delvecchio said. "V2G unlocks the full benefit of EV uptake in a way that helps everyone - EV owner or not." The council is calling for the home battery program to include $3000 rebates for 50,000 V2G chargers by the end of 2028 at a cost of $150 million. It calculates this would create a national benefit of more than $230 million by 2033. A study conducted by the University of Technology Sydney and iMove Co-operative Research Centre earlier this year found more than half of all Australians would like their car to double as a battery that could feed power back to the grid. However big changes would be needed to make the process easier. The high price of bi-direction chargers, persistent software issues and complicated installation processes were cited as the main issues. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency issued a V2G roadmap in February that estimated 2.6 million households could be using the technology by 2040 to support the energy grid and save money. Incentives for electric car owners to sell energy stored in their vehicles back to the grid could deliver a $230 million national windfall and make power cheaper for everyone. Modelling by the Electric Vehicle Council suggests a $3000 government rebate towards vehicle-to-grid, or V2G, chargers would create $4500 in downward pressure on electricity bills Australia wide. So called bi-directional technology allows energy stored in EVs during daylight hours and while power is cheap to be sold back during evening peaks. According to the research, every dollar spent supporting V2G would mean a $1.50 return through lower wholesale prices and a reduced need for additional expenditure on infrastructure. The benefit for participating EV owners would be handy too, with an extra $1000 per year in their pockets for exporting power when demand is high. The council wants V2G chargers included in the federal government's $2.3 billion home battery program and says 600,000 contributing EVs would match the output of NSW's Eraring power station operating at full capacity. There is major potential to make electricity cheaper and help stabilise the energy grid, according to CEO Julie Delvecchio. "Just as Australia became a rapid global leader in rooftop solar, we have the opportunity now to lead the charge in vehicle-to-grid uptake," she said on Saturday. "EVs can store up to five times more energy than a typical home battery." Australia is already home to more than 350,000 EVs or "giant batteries on wheels", with a high proportion garaged in middle and outer suburbia. "With some EVs now around $30,000, the up-front cost is making it more affordable for more Australians to make the switch to cheaper-to-run cars," Ms Delvecchio said. "V2G unlocks the full benefit of EV uptake in a way that helps everyone - EV owner or not." The council is calling for the home battery program to include $3000 rebates for 50,000 V2G chargers by the end of 2028 at a cost of $150 million. It calculates this would create a national benefit of more than $230 million by 2033. A study conducted by the University of Technology Sydney and iMove Co-operative Research Centre earlier this year found more than half of all Australians would like their car to double as a battery that could feed power back to the grid. However big changes would be needed to make the process easier. The high price of bi-direction chargers, persistent software issues and complicated installation processes were cited as the main issues. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency issued a V2G roadmap in February that estimated 2.6 million households could be using the technology by 2040 to support the energy grid and save money. Incentives for electric car owners to sell energy stored in their vehicles back to the grid could deliver a $230 million national windfall and make power cheaper for everyone. Modelling by the Electric Vehicle Council suggests a $3000 government rebate towards vehicle-to-grid, or V2G, chargers would create $4500 in downward pressure on electricity bills Australia wide. So called bi-directional technology allows energy stored in EVs during daylight hours and while power is cheap to be sold back during evening peaks. According to the research, every dollar spent supporting V2G would mean a $1.50 return through lower wholesale prices and a reduced need for additional expenditure on infrastructure. The benefit for participating EV owners would be handy too, with an extra $1000 per year in their pockets for exporting power when demand is high. The council wants V2G chargers included in the federal government's $2.3 billion home battery program and says 600,000 contributing EVs would match the output of NSW's Eraring power station operating at full capacity. There is major potential to make electricity cheaper and help stabilise the energy grid, according to CEO Julie Delvecchio. "Just as Australia became a rapid global leader in rooftop solar, we have the opportunity now to lead the charge in vehicle-to-grid uptake," she said on Saturday. "EVs can store up to five times more energy than a typical home battery." Australia is already home to more than 350,000 EVs or "giant batteries on wheels", with a high proportion garaged in middle and outer suburbia. "With some EVs now around $30,000, the up-front cost is making it more affordable for more Australians to make the switch to cheaper-to-run cars," Ms Delvecchio said. "V2G unlocks the full benefit of EV uptake in a way that helps everyone - EV owner or not." The council is calling for the home battery program to include $3000 rebates for 50,000 V2G chargers by the end of 2028 at a cost of $150 million. It calculates this would create a national benefit of more than $230 million by 2033. A study conducted by the University of Technology Sydney and iMove Co-operative Research Centre earlier this year found more than half of all Australians would like their car to double as a battery that could feed power back to the grid. However big changes would be needed to make the process easier. The high price of bi-direction chargers, persistent software issues and complicated installation processes were cited as the main issues. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency issued a V2G roadmap in February that estimated 2.6 million households could be using the technology by 2040 to support the energy grid and save money.
