Hundreds rally at parliament against proposed university merger

More than 300 university students and staff have marched on Parliament House to protest a controversial plan to merge three of Western Australia's four public universities.

The government last week announced a steering committee to investigate the merits of combining the University of Western Australia, Curtin and Murdoch to create Australia's largest university with more 100,000 students.

The move was immediately slammed as expensive and wasteful by both Murdoch and Curtin universities, while UWA Vice Chancellor Amit Chakma praised the "aspiration" of the plan and its desire to improve the sector.

Students chanted "I repeat, I say, no merger in WA" and "say it loud, say it clear, we don't want a merger here," as members of the three student guilds spoke to the crowd. 

Parallels to France protests

Curtin University guild president Dylan Storer said students would not back down. 

"Our universities belong to the people of Western Australia, and we deserve a say in their future," he said.

"Right now, our state government has an opportunity. An opportunity to invest in affordable student housing. To invest in better teaching, better facilities and better student support … you cannot fix a cost-of-living crisis with a corporate restructure."

Incoming UWA guild councillor Rojin Didari described the actions of protesters in France as "heroic" and urged WA students to "take a leaf" out their book.

Protests over poor classroom conditions have turned into riots in the European country, with widespread violence and looting.

But speaking after the protest Mr Storer distances himself from those comments, saying he did not agree and most people in attendance would "deplore that kind of violence". 

Minister not in attendance

Tertiary Education Minister Tony Buti said he would not address the rally because he had only been invited yesterday, and would be introducing an overhaul of the state's discrimination laws to parliament at the same time.

Dr Buti repeated the government's concerns about students receiving a sub-par education and said money spent on executives should instead benefit them.

"All I ask students, all I ask academics ... let's re-imagine [university] education," he said.

Dr Buti said he could understand why students were concerned about the proposal but accused guild presidents of cherry picking the information they give to them.

He said no commitment had been made and a merger would only proceed if the business case stacked up.

Numbers in parliament

But the merger may be in trouble before the business case even begins, with doubt over whether Labor has the numbers to get the legislation through parliament.

The Liberal party room voted on Tuesday to reject the proposal, regardless of the business case, and the Greens are also strongly opposed to the idea.

It means Labor would need the support of at least three members of the cross bench to pass its bill.

Opposition education spokesman Liam Staltari said it was "the wrong proposal, flat out".

"Have we ever seen this government commission a business case that at the end of the process doesn't end up with a glowing view of their own pet project?" he said.

"What they haven't counted on is the opposition of students and the community saying they won't just roll over and accept a forced mega merger."