WA merger panel's UWA ties draw accusations of bias

Committee evaluating proposed three-way university merger has majority with links to the only institution backing the plan

By LineZotpaper

Published20 October 2026

Read Time3 min

Sources4 outlets

The steering committee tasked with evaluating the proposed mega-merger of three Western Australian universities has been accused of having a preordained outcome, with a majority of its members holding ties to the University of Western Australia, the only institution publicly supporting the proposal.

The state government-appointed steering committee is responsible for developing the business case for merging Curtin University, Murdoch University, and the University of Western Australia (UWA) under a single brand. The proposal is already deeply contentious, with Curtin and Murdoch having openly rejected it, while UWA has offered tentative support.

Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas accused the government of arranging the committee with a predetermined conclusion in mind. "I see today that the chair of the steering committee is effectively going to go out and sell the benefit of the merger," Mr Zempilas said. "I thought the steering committee was there to do the business case and to consider it at the end of the process. Despite their denials about a preconceived idea, they had a preconceived idea from the very start."

Of the seven publicly named committee members, four have direct connections to UWA. Chair Mark Barnaba is a UWA graduate who recently resigned from the university's business school board and investment committee following his appointment. Deputy chair and medical researcher Professor Fiona Wood serves on UWA's medical school faculty. Emeritus Professor Peter Klinken is a UWA graduate who has publicly supported a merger. Businesswoman Susan Grylls also holds a master's degree from UWA.

Mr Barnaba strongly defended the committee's impartiality. "Our job is to be objective, independent, and judged by the data and whatever that business case decides, we will be totally driven by that. No one's formed a view," he said. He cited compelling preliminary figures from earlier feasibility studies, noting a potential $8 billion in value over 20 years and a benefit-cost ratio of at least five. "These are compelling numbers. They're not marginal numbers."

Premier Roger Cook rejected the allegations of bias. "The steering committee will guide the business case. On that steering committee, we have representatives from all the universities, student representatives, representative from the union, and obviously some key business leaders and experts in the field," he said. Mr Barnaba noted that Mr Cook's undergraduate degree was from Murdoch and his MBA from Curtin, questioning the logic that institutional ties automatically imply a conflict.

The committee also includes members with links to the other institutions: Dr Peter Yu, who studied at what is now Curtin University; Elizabeth Gaines, a Curtin alumna; and WA Agent General Rebecca Tomkinson, a Murdoch graduate. The committee is expected to deliver its final business case to parliament by the middle of next year. A student-led protest against the merger is scheduled to be held on the steps of WA Parliament this week.

Analysis

Why This Matters

A massive restructuring of Western Australia's public university system is on the line, and the credibility of the process that will inform the decision is now under serious question.
The outcome will shape the state's higher education landscape for decades, affecting students, staff, and the broader economy.
The perception of bias could undermine public and institutional trust in the business case before it is even completed.

Background

The WA government appointed a steering committee to develop a full business case for merging Curtin University, Murdoch University, and the University of Western Australia into a single institution. UWA has expressed tentative support for the proposal, but both Curtin and Murdoch have openly opposed it. The composition of the seven-person committee has attracted scrutiny after it emerged that a majority of its members have ties to UWA, either as alumni, former faculty, board members, or public advocates of the merger.

Key Perspectives

WA Government (Premier Roger Cook): Defends the committee's composition, arguing it includes representatives from all three universities, students, and unions. He rejects claims of a predetermined outcome and trusts the committee to remain objective. Steering Committee Chair (Mark Barnaba): Acknowledges his and others' ties to UWA but has taken steps to mitigate conflicts of interest, such as resigning from UWA board roles. He insists the committee is driven by data and has not formed a final opinion. Opposition (Basil Zempilas): Argues that the process is compromised from the start, pointing to the chair's planned public advocacy of the merger as evidence of a predetermined outcome. Curtin and Murdoch Universities: Have firmly rejected the proposed merger and are not represented by the committee members who dominate the panel.

What to Watch

The student-led protest scheduled for this week at WA Parliament.
Public commentary from steering committee members, particularly Chair Barnaba's planned appearance at a business breakfast next month.
The release of the final business case, expected by the middle of next year.
Any formal changes in position or public statements from Curtin and Murdoch universities as the process unfolds.

Sources

Most of WA’s mega-university merger panel have ties to this one university · The Age - Latest News
Most of WA’s mega-university merger panel have ties to this one university · Brisbane Times - Latest News
Most of WA’s mega-university merger panel have ties to this one university · Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Most of WA’s mega-university merger panel have ties to this one university · WA Today - Latest News

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 9 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedMost committee members have ties to UWA, the only institution publicly backing the merger proposal.The Age - Latest News: “A majority of the WA committee tasked with determining whether a proposed mega-merger between three of the state’s universities will work have individual ties or affiliations to the University of WA - the only institution publicly backing the case to bring the unis together.”
SupportedZempilas accused the government of arranging the committee with a predetermined conclusion in mind.The Age - Latest News: “This raised the eyebrows of Opposition leader Basil Zempilas on Tuesday who has accused the government of setting up the steering committee with a “preordained” pro-merger outcome in mind.”
SupportedZempilas said: “I see today that the chair of the steering committee is effectively going to go out and sell the benefit of the merger.”The Age - Latest News: ““I see today that the chair of the steering committee is effectively going to go out and sell the benefit of the merger,” he said.”
SupportedZempilas said: “Despite their denials about a preconceived idea, they had a preconceived idea from the very start.”The Age - Latest News: ““Despite their denials about a preconceived idea, they had a preconceived idea from the very start.””
SupportedFour of the seven publicly named committee members have direct connections to UWA.The Age - Latest News: “four of the seven committee members have a direct connection to UWA - either through studying at the institution or working there.”
SupportedBarnaba is a UWA graduate who resigned from the university’s business school board and investment committee after the steering committee was announced.The Age - Latest News: “revealing he had recently resigned from his board roles at the UWA business school and the investment committee after the steering committee was announced”
Partly supportedWood serves on UWA’s medical school faculty.The Age - Latest News: “Wood then became a professor at the university’s medical school.”
SupportedBarnaba said: “Our job is to be objective, independent, and judged by the data and whatever that business case decides, we will be totally driven by that. No one's formed a view.”The Age - Latest News: ““Our job is to be objective, independent, and judged by the data and whatever that business case decides, we will be totally driven by that. No one’s formed a view.””
SupportedBarnaba cited potential merger value of $8 billion over 20 years and a benefit-cost ratio of at least five.The Age - Latest News: ““There’s a promise-based case that there’s $8 billion of value over 20 years in a merger. There’s a benefit-cost ratio of low side five, top side 15.””
SupportedBarnaba said: “These are compelling numbers. They're not marginal numbers.”The Age - Latest News: ““These are compelling numbers. They’re not marginal numbers.””
Partly supportedCook rejected allegations of bias.The Age - Latest News: “Premier Roger Cook also rejected the idea the merger was a pre-ordained decision.”
Partly supportedThe committee is expected to deliver its final business case to parliament by the middle of next year.The Age - Latest News: “The steering committee is expected to hand the business case to parliament by the middle of next year.”

Correction

20 October 2026An earlier version of this story attributed remarks about Premier Roger Cook's university degrees and whether institutional ties imply a conflict to Mr Cook. The remarks were made by committee chair Mark Barnaba.