Stoush brewing over mega-university plan

Key points

• Staff unions and university leaders are opposing a WA government plan to merge The University of Western Australia, Curtin University and Murdoch University into one large institution. A survey by the National Tertiary Education Union found 68.7 per cent of 936 staff opposed the merger, with 11.9 per cent in support.
• Curtin vice-chancellor Harlene Hayne said the cost of more than a billion dollars would not benefit Western Australians. Premier Roger Cook says universities need to grow to compete for research funding and students.
• A steering committee will prepare a business case before the government makes a final decision.