Why new Western Sydney University chancellor George Williams demanded his pay be cut by 25 per cent as his first move

The new president of one of Australia’s largest universities has demanded a pay cut, saying lower salaries for vice-chancellors are “fair and just”.

Professor George Williams became the new Vice-Chancellor of Western Sydney University a month ago.

One of his first acts in office was to negotiate a 20-25 percent pay cut compared to his predecessor Barney Glover, whose salary in 2022 was more than $1 million.

More than half of vice-chancellors at Australian universities earn more than $1 million.

However, Professor Williams, an expert in constitutional law, argues that vice-chancellors should compare their salaries with the equivalent level in the public service.

“I went into this thinking that universities need to change. In my case, I don’t work for a company, it’s not a company – our bottom line is not dollars, it’s students and the community,” Professor Williams told 2GB’s Ben Fordham.

The university president said it was “fair and just” that his salary was comparable to that of the lowest-paid head of a federal government department.

“I thought it was important for both the sector and the university to get an appropriate salary,” he said.

One of Prof Williams’ first acts in office was to negotiate a 20-25 per cent salary cut compared to his predecessor Barney Glover, whose salary in 2022 was more than $1 million (Photo: Western Sydney University)

‘I also thought the benchmarking was crucial because I think the community has rightly said, “What’s wrong with these salaries? They’re at a level that we don’t understand.”‘

But Professor Williams also wanted to take a stand against the fat salaries of academics, but that also had personal reasons.

“Universities are for students and the community, and I felt it was good to send a message,” he said.

‘Personally, it’s also just my background: I come from a low SES (socio-economic) family and probably spent a large part of my childhood on the wrong side of the tracks. I was expelled from school.’

Professor Williams added: ‘Teaching has changed my life and I felt it was about giving something back.’

The academic was born in Tasmania but moved to Sydney with his mother, who raised him as a single parent and he went ‘off the rails’.

“I was the kind of kid you wouldn’t want in your classroom, I think it’s fair to say. The most important thing for me and what really changed my life was my teachers,” he said.

Professor Williams said his background helped him empathise and provide support to many students at Western Sydney University, many of whom come from disadvantaged or challenging backgrounds.

Professor Williams criticised the government’s proposed decision to limit the number of international students universities can admit next year, claiming it would reduce funding for domestic students

“We have a lot of kids who are on the wrong side of the tracks coming to Western Sydney University. That’s the thing: two-thirds of our kids come from families where nobody has ever been to university,” he said.

‘We have the highest number of children from low SES or poverty backgrounds and our company ensures that they can progress and have a better life. That is why we welcome them and offer them, like me, opportunities.’

However, Professor Williams criticised the government’s proposed decision to limit the number of international students universities can admit next year.

He said foreigners previously made up 20 per cent of the student population at Western Sydney University, which helped fund places for domestic students.

The proposed cap, which will be set on an institution-by-institution basis, will cost Western Sydney University alone $26.5 million next year.

“That’s not until next year and it’s getting bigger and bigger every year,” Professor Williams said.

“That is essentially money that subsidizes domestic students for their food, equity and study programs.”