(1) How does public oversight of the management of public universities currently occur?
(a) What are the mechanisms, regulations, laws and policies for public oversight?
(2) Is the Minister aware that current NSW legislation, introduced during the premiership of Barry O'Farrell, watered down provisions for independent oversight and accountability of university executives and senior management?
(3) Is it true that student and staff representation on university governing bodies has been reduced and the powers of academic senates to review or question executive decisions have also been reduced or removed in universities in NSW?
(a) Is this consistent with their public funding and mission?
(4) What steps has the Minister taken regarding the use of 'commercial-in-confidence' clauses to shield university executives them from financial scrutiny and accountability?
(5) What consultation with staff and students are required by university executives for decisions about staffing, curricula and expenditure?
(a) Are there plans to mandate increased consultation?
(6) Given the importance of the tertiary sector in terms of the education of our young people, the vital research it conducts, and its major contribution to the country's economy, why is there no federal or state legislation specifying the manner in which formal consultation with staff by university management should occur over all of these issues?
(7) Based on five-year averages, which university faculties and schools in the state/territory have the highest levels of international student enr0olments?
(8) Based on five-year averages, which university faculties and schools employ the most casuals to teach international students?
(a) If this information is not available, why not?
(9) Why are statistical and financial details that used to be contained in the annual reports of public universities only ten to fifteen years ago no longer contained in those reports?
(10) In what ways are universities required to conduct due diligence of their finances?