The first of several rounds of job cuts has been announced by the Australian National University as it seeks to save $250 million by the end of the year. Vice-Chancellor Genevieve Bell says job losses are necessary to ensure the future viability of the institution. "Change proposals" for several departments and divisions will be released in the coming weeks.
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00:01A difficult day in an already difficult year for the Australian National University.
00:07This is a hard time for our community and it's been a hard journey we're on.
00:11The reality is we have been spending more than we're earning.
00:16After years of operating deficits, the institution has been seeking to make $250 million in savings by the end of the year,
00:24including $100 million to come from salaries.
00:27We've actually successfully managed to take $51 million off the target of $100 million in salary savings,
00:34which has taken a lot of work from everyone across the community.
00:37But there's still more work to do.
00:39The first of several change proposals has been released by the university.
00:4337 jobs from the IT services and planning and service performance divisions have been earmarked to go.
00:50This is really the tip of the iceberg, so we've got job cuts that have been announced today,
00:54but we're expecting more change proposals with job cuts over the coming four months.
00:58So while there's dozens of jobs today, it will be hundreds over the coming months.
01:01In coming weeks, proposed job cuts and restructures will be released for other divisions, colleges and departments.
01:07The university says they'll consult every step of the way, promising no changes will be implemented until feedback is considered.
01:15I'm really hopeful by the end of the year we're in a much better place than we are now.
01:18And I know that's going to be a difficult journey to get us there,
01:21but I also know it's the right thing to do for this remarkable place.
01:24This is not about delivering services more efficiently.
01:26This is about delivering services on the cheap,
01:28and there will be definite impacts for the quality of services at ANU.
01:32An institution facing tough times ahead.