The case for merging UWA, Curtin and Murdoch universities has come under fresh fire. Two academics argue the Deloitte modelling behind it is a "magic pudding", and that the plan "increasingly looks like a UWA takeover of Curtin and Murdoch".
In an analysis for Michael West Media, Adam Lucas, of the University of Wollongong, and Emeritus Professor James Guthrie, of Macquarie University, take aim at Deloitte's estimate that a three-way merger could deliver up to $7.6 billion in net economic benefit over 20 years. The piece was one of the most upvoted posts on r/perth on Thursday.
What they argue
The authors say the $7.6 billion is an "up to" projection, not money in the bank. In their view, it depends on assuming the "lower-performing" universities will close half the gap with UWA on completion rates, international students and research income. They call that "wishful thinking on steroids".
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They also point to adding-up errors in the report's cost tables. In one scenario, the figures were understated by $260 million. In another, they were overstated by $311 million. The authors say the report also gives conflicting answers about which merger option has the best benefit-cost ratio.
Photo: Michal Lewi via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0). Bush Court, Murdoch University.
The article quotes Murdoch's vice-chancellor describing the report's assumptions as "a lot of unjustified statements". It says Murdoch's completion rates reflect its high share of part-time students. The authors also note that Deloitte did not test looser options, such as a federation or shared services, that would keep all three universities.
Where things stand
The State Government has already asked Deloitte for money back over errors in the $166,000 report, including references made up by AI, and has asked for a corrected version. The authors point to South Australia's Adelaide University merger as a warning, saying Deloitte's integration contract there was worth $185 million.
The piece is opinion and analysis, and Deloitte's response is not included in it.
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Photo: Orderinchaos via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0). Curtin University, Bentley.
Sources: Michael West Media (Adam Lucas and James Guthrie, 28 October 2026), r/perth.
Photo (top): Calistemon via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0). Winthrop Hall, UWA, September 2020.
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