Mr Tudge said the code would promote public confidence that the salaries were appropriate amid ongoing controversy over the $1 million-plus salaries earned by many vice-chancellors.
“It’s always surprised me that some vice-chancellors were getting paid far more than the most senior public servants in the country,” Mr Tudge
As part of the code,the UCC – which comprises the chancellors of every public university across Australia – will commission data to compare the salaries earned by universities’ top brass with those earned by public sector leaders and the heads of ASX-companies with similar-sized turnover as universities. The code says remuneration should be “competitive,appropriate and transparent”.
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Chancellors perform a governing role similar to a chairperson and lead the university’s council or senate.
Vice-chancellors’ salaries have been a long-running sore point within the government. University of Melbourne vice-chancellor Duncan Maskell took home a remuneration package of just over $1.5 million in 2020,while the vice-chancellors of Monash and RMIT universities also topped the $1 million mark last year.
University of Sydney chief Mark Scott will earn a base salary of $840,000 this year and could earn up to $1.15m with bonuses. His predecessor,Dr Michael Spence,finished his 12-year stint in 2020 on a salary of about $1.6 million. UNSW chief Ian Jacobs took home $1.3 million last year.