Analysis by the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) estimates $159 million in wage theft within the Australian university sector.

The NTEU says the issue affects over 97,000 staff across 32 institutions, with 55 incidents recorded since 2009, predominantly in the last decade.

The NTEU's second Wage Theft Report says an impending backpay liability, primarily impacting overworked casual academics, is set to rise as audits and legal actions against major institutions like Monash University, University of NSW, Curtin University, Deakin University, and Charles Darwin University are concluded.

Victoria emerges as the worst state for university wage theft, totaling $75 million in underpayments, followed by NSW at $65 million and Tasmania at $11 million. 

The University of Melbourne leads the union’s tally with a $45 million underpayment affecting 30,000 casual academics, followed by the University of Wollongong at $18 million and the University of Sydney at $14.7 million.

NTEU President Dr. Alison Barnes says the figures show the need for urgent governance reforms, echoing Education Minister Jason Clare's call for universities to become “exemplary employers” through the Universities Accord process. 

Dr Barnes has highlighted the role of unaccountable vice-chancellors and the pressing need to address casualisation through state and federal powers, including funding.

As the Universities Accord considers substantial reforms, including governance on industrial relations compliance, the NTEU proposes increased representation for staff and students on university councils and senates. 

Additionally, they advocate for national governance guidelines and data reports on fixed-term and casual employees, along with tying government funding to the conversion of casuals to permanent positions.

The Fair Work Ombudsman, Anna Booth, has identified the university sector as a priority due to long-term and systemic underpayment of casual staff. 

The final report on the Universities Accord is expected by January next year.