WANNON MP Dan Tehan will fight for the Warrnambool campus’ survival during a hastily-convened meeting with Deakin University leaders next week.
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“This has come as a complete shock,” Mr Tehan said hours after the university revealed it was looking to exit Warrnambool.
“I have asked to meet with the vice chancellor next week for a full explanation. What I will be asking for is full transparency because everyone in the community was in the dark on this and that is not good enough.”
He said a south-west university campus was vital.
“I will be doing everything I can to make sure the university campus not only remains open but flourishes and that is the outcome I will be working towards,” he said.
Mr Tehan is prepared to launch a campaign.
“The Deakin Warrnambool campus delivers for rural and regional Australians with 80 per cent of the enrolments coming from those areas,” he said. “Deakin has a social responsibility to ensure that aspect of their services continue.”
Warrnambool City Council chief executive officer Bruce Anson, who met with Vice Chancellor Jane den Hollander on Friday, said Warrnambool had a proud history as a university city.
“It is now part of our identity and together with the TAFE, Warrnambool is able to provide excellent tertiary education choices,” he said.
“Council will be working to ensure that Warrnambool remains a university city.”
This has come as a complete shock...everyone in the community was in the dark on this.
- Dan Tehan