Petition is successful with 334 signatures
To: RMIT STAFF
An open letter to RMIT Chancellor Dr Ziggy Switkowski
Dr Ziggy Switkowski has stepped down as RMIT chancellor!
Congratulations to all who signed the petition.
An open letter to RMIT chancellor Dr Ziggy Switkowski:
Crown Casino has been shown time and again to be a socially destructive force.
As part of the entirely necessary and overdue Royal Commission into Crown Casino, commission head Ray Finkelstein stated “Wherever I look I see not just bad conduct but illegal conduct, improper conduct, unacceptable conduct and it permeates the whole organisation”. This is an organisation that cannot be rehabilitated, operating in a sector that destroys people’s lives.
As has very recently been demonstrated with the forced resignation of Mark Vaile as the chancellor of the University of Newcastle (UoN), the community expects chancellors to demonstrate a commitment to social wellbeing and the public interest. Staff and students at UoN showed they were not willing to support an appointment that breached this commitment. As was also demonstrated in this instance, key donors and supporters of UoN would not tolerate this appointment either, which highlights the governance and reputational risk that now falls on RMIT.
The Higher Education Act (2005) requires by law that University Council members have “an appreciation of the values of a University”. Given RMIT values include being “agents of positive change for our students, the community and beyond”, it is simply untenable that you continue in your role of RMIT chancellor or as a Council member whilst chair of Crown Resorts Board.
The undersigned RMIT University NTEU members and non-members call for your immediate resignation as RMIT chancellor and from the RMIT Council.
Signed,
Why is this important?
The Higher Education Act (2005) requires by law that University Council members have “an appreciation of the values of a University”. Given RMIT values include being “agents of positive change for our students, the community and beyond”, it is simply untenable that Ziggy Switkowski continues in his role of RMIT chancellor or as a Council member whilst chair of Crown Resorts Board .