A subsequent document release showed the university paid tens of thousands to political fundraisers over the past five years, 82 per cent of which went to Liberal Party coffers. Three of those five years saw payments made solely to the Liberal Party.

The current NSW election campaign has seen at least $4000 in assistance to candidates, including a $1000 ticket to a “private dinner hosted by Gareth Ward MP, Member for Kiama” last October.  Only last month they paid for a $500 ticket to attend a “fundraising dinner with the Hon. Mike Baird, Premier of NSW”.

Why the university would participate in political fundraising and why such a distortion exists is yet to be explained. 

The university justifies it by simply saying they are invited to more Liberal Party events. A national media outlet points to factors such as a family relationship between senior UOW staff and a Liberal senator and strong Liberal Party links through University Council.

Whatever the circumstances, the university must cease such blatantly partisan political support and stop attending political fundraising events. 

I doubt parents and students wish to see scarce tertiary education funding secretly dribbling back to oil political machines.

It is empty rhetoric for politicians to agree there’s a problem with public institutions donating to them but continue to benefit from the university’s largesse. At the very least, Illawarra candidates should refund any donations they have received leading up to the current state election.

M. Corrigan,

Vincentia.