A SPLIT is developing among prominent Central West Nationals MPs over Charles Sturt University's handling of its financial affairs.
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Calare MP Andrew Gee has maintained a strong line in recent months of accusing CSU of a lack of transparency over its true financial position.
Speaking under the protection of parliamentary privilege last month, Mr Gee went even further in detailing allegations of fraud and mismanagement he said had been raised with him during private conversations, allegations the university has rejected.
And on Monday he issued another media statement saying he welcomed action taken by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) to investigate a range of issues relating to CSU.
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"There has been enormous community concern over the future of CSU, particularly when it is shedding jobs in big numbers," Mr Gee said.
"... Our communities are entitled to transparency, particularly when the Australian Government is providing an $18 billion funding guarantee to universities to support them through the COVID-19 pandemic and an additional $400 million for the country university sector under the Jobs-ready Graduates Package."
But Mr Gee is looking more like a solitary figure in his attacks on CSU after his Bathurst-based Nationals colleagues Paul Toole (the state Member for Bathurst) and Sam Farraway (NSW MLC) both came out on Monday in support of the university's work to get its finances in order.
Mr Toole also publicly questioned CSU's financial position earlier this year but has softened his stance since receiving assurances over the future of the Bathurst campus - including the retention of key courses including nursing, paramedics, engineering, teaching and journalism - and a guarantee the university's vice chancellor would remain based in Bathurst.
He and Mr Farraway have been briefed on CSU's Sustainable Futures program and an independent audit of its finances and say they were satisfied with what they heard.
"Representatives from Charles Sturt briefed me about the university's financial position and its Sustainable Futures program, which is aimed at ensuring the university delivers for regional Australia in a way that is financially and academically sustainable," Mr Toole said.
"I look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with the [CSU] to develop further opportunities which will benefit the Bathurst region and regional Australia."
Mr Farraway said it was "important we do all we can to strengthen regional education and grow regional NSW".
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