PM Transcripts

P. M. No. 19/ 196o
UNI VE SITY SALARIES
Statement by Acting Prime Minister. Mr. J. MoEwen
The Acting-Prime Minister, Mr. McEwen, said today that
thle Australian Universities Commission, having regard to movements
in professorial salaries during the past two years, has
proposed that the Commfonwealth Government should accept an increase
in the basic professorial salary on which Commonwealth
assistance is made available under the States Grants ( Universities)
Act. Some States, he said, had sought a lead from the
Commission on the question of University salaries. The Commission
had advised the Commonwealth that it would be appropriate to
assist the States in respect of salary rises up to f-4 000 a year
for basic professorial salaries as from 1st July, 1966. The
Commission has also recommended that the salaries of sub-professorial
staff should be suitably adjusted.
Mr. McEwen said that the Commonwealth accepted these
recommendations. He emphasised that the actual level of salary
increases in each State iras not a matter for the Commission or
the Commonwealth Government to determine. The Commonwealth,
however, is prepared to meet its share of any increase in University
salaries up to the level indicated. Whether the actual
professorial salaries paid in State Universities were higher or
lower was a matter for the State Governments and their Universities.
Mr. McEwen pointed out that there had been general acceptance
of the Murray Committee report ( on which the present
level of assistance is based) which includes the concept that
University salaries throughout Australia should be more or less
in line. The Gommonwealth has assumed heavy financial commitments
under the States Grants ( Universities) Act, arid it also has
its own direct responsibility for the Australian National U~ niversity
and the Canberra University College. Because salaries form
such a large element in University ' costs, the Commonwealth must
necessarily concern itself with movements in University salaries.
During the past eight months the Commission I1Rs visited
all Universities and has considered their needs for the 1961/ 63
triennium. Since approximately 601o of the recurrent expenditure
at Universities is devoted to salaries, the Commission recommended
the appointment of an expert committee to advise it on the
appropriate levels for academic salaries throughout Australian
Universities for the 1961/ 63 triennium and on other relevant
matters. The Acting Prime Minister said that the Government had
accepted this recommendation.
Mr. McEwen said that the committee would be under the
Chairmanship of Sir Leslie Martin, the Chairman of the Australian
Universities Commission, and :* iould comprise the following members:
Dr. 11,0. Coombs, Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, Mr.
L. B. Hamilton, First Assistant Secretary, Department of the
Treasury, Canberra, Professor Sir George P ton, Chairman of the
Australian Vice-Chancellors' Committee, Mr. G. F. Seaman, Under
Treasurer, South Australia and Mr. L. J. Jeickhardt, Technical
Director Imperial. Chemical industries of Australia and New
Zealand Limited. The Acting Prime Minister added that the
committee would have power to co-opt where special information
was required and that interested bodies would be invited to prepare
submissions for the consideration of the committee.
CAN BERRA,
27th May, 1960.,