Wannon MP Dan Tehan met federal Education and Training Minster Simon Birmingham at Parliament House to discuss the unfolding situation.

A delegation from the Great South Coast group also travelled to Canberra to meet with the minster’s senior advisors.  

Mr Tehan said the discussion with Senator Birmingham was productive and the pair agreed Deakin needed to do the right thing by Warrnambool.

“The minister and I agree Deakin has a clear responsibility to ensure a viable university campus continues to serve the south-west region,” Mr Tehan said. 

He said he would convey the message directly to the university’s Vice Chancellor Jane den Hollander at a meeting on Friday.

Mr Tehan also confirmed he had a lengthy discussion with Federation University’s Vice Chancellor David Battersby.

The Ballarat-based Federation University has emerged as a potential white knight for the Warrnambool campus. 

Great South Coast Group chair and Moyne Shire mayor Colin Ryan said the minister was watching closely. 

“What we need to do as a community is work together to support retaining a campus,” Cr Ryan said. 

“There are no bad guys here, we need to work through this together to ensure a university remains.”