Robert Hogan

Shining a light on the mismanagement of the University of Tasmania.

I blog at

[Robert Hogan @theutaspapers]

The VC Rufus Black - Deloitte conflict of interest

I submitted a further RTI application to UTAS on this matter last Thursday, as set out in my new blog post: https://t.co/I4RjJbOhIz

The conflict of interest cannot be fixed and represents a total failure in governance at UTAS, starting at the top with Chancellor Alison Watkins.

[Robert Hogan @theutaspapers]

Highly recommended reading.

VC Black must go.

https://t.co/MIxv6e7PVO

@BarnsGreg
@kevinbonham

[Robert Hogan @theutaspapers]

https://t.co/CWkDBxunC0

[Robert Hogan @theutaspapers]

VC Black’s Deloitte appointment is a conflict of interest and exposes UTAS governance failures

I have published a major blog post on this issue today at: https://t.co/AbYQV9VxuA

The post raises two principal issues.

(1) VC Black’s appointment to the Board of Deloitte represents a fundamental conflict of interest that cannot be ‘healed’ by internal process steps or by his offsetting or donating his Deloitte remuneration.

(2) According to UTAS’ initial and internal review decisions on an RTI application that I lodged on 30 August 2025, I have received all documents relating to VC Black’s Deloitte appointment.

These documents are reproduced in full in Appendix 2 of my blog post. I suggest reading them closely, perhaps even before you read any commentary by me. They show that UTAS’ internal governance processes in relation to VC Black’s Deloitte appointment, such as they were, were gravely deficient.

This is symptomatic of the complete breakdown of governance at UTAS.

I have written to VC Black and Chancellor Watkins today urging them to resign and suggest readers do likewise.

#politas
@WilkieMP
@indie4franklin
@KrisJJohnston
@VicaBayley
@rosaliewoodruff
@BarnsGreg

[Robert Hogan @theutaspapers]

Government fails transparency test on UTAS Bill - letter to the Premier

New blog post with the text of my letter to the Premier at: https://t.co/UN0EWBHXly

As I say in the first para of the letter, I believe that it would be inappropriate for the Parliament to even consider the UTAS (Protection of Land) Bill 2025, which includes the rezoning/sale amendments, until Min Ogilvie and DPAC provide satisfactory responses to RTI applications submitted to them on 4 December 2024, and I have had an opportunity to publish these for the benefit of the community.
#politas
@WilkieMP
@VicaBayley
@rosaliewoodruff
@BarnsGreg

[Robert Hogan @theutaspapers]

The true cost of VC Black’s Forestry Building folly

Over $226m for a glorified refurbishment (aka vanity project)! See: https://t.co/VKXDuXrrIH

And people are trusting UTAS to build a new STEM for $500m? Even UTAS' own quantity surveyor said :
"This cost plan is based on preliminary information and therefore should be regarded as indicative only of the possible order of cost." (Slattery)

UTAS:

- No leadership (best of luck, Deloitte: https://t.co/6KLZCmTW8T)

- No plan (harebrained doesn't count)

- No money: https://t.co/TLfEht4RDO

- No capacity to manage projects within a budget (see: https://t.co/FnVO3R7qfo)

- A student exodus: https://t.co/Xbvo8eS69j

- No transparency: https://t.co/gWdpeNAf6V

But a State Government that believes everything UTAS says. Wow.

Time for everyone concerned to wake up, and for revitalisation of the current Sandy Bay facilities.

@caitecassidy
@hairjulie
@AdamHolmes010
@MattDenholm
@LeonCompton
@NickKLClark
@rg_inglis
@CassyOConnorMLC
@KrisJJohnston
@jeremyrockliff
@EricAbetzMP
@SarahLovellMLC
@DavidOByrneMP
@Indy4Franklin
@WilkieMP

[Robert Hogan @theutaspapers]

Tasmania’s brain drain continues – UTAS Council asleep at the wheel?

Based on statistics released by the Commonwealth Department of Education on 26 September, I have published a new blog post at: https://t.co/Xbvo8eS69j

This post shows a continuing brain drain from Tasmania, as Tasmania's students favour other universities over UTAS, making fundamental long-term State budget repair much harder, if not impossible.

The brain drain coincided with an increase in on-line learning to 73% - correlation doesn't mean causation, but sometimes it is very suggestive.

The post also draws attention to the neglected views of students at UTAS.

The UTAS Council and the majority of Tasmania's politicians need to wake up before UTAS ceases to be worthy of the name of university.

Another correlation: the VC is ex-McKinsey, the Chancellor is ex-McKinsey, the VC's chief offsider is ex-Deloitte. Oh, and the VC was just appointed to the Board of Deloitte.

@caitecassidy
@hairjulie
@AdamHolmes010
@MattDenholm
@LeonCompton
@rg_inglis
@CassyOConnorMLC
@KrisJJohnston
@jeremyrockliff
@EricAbetzMP
@SarahLovellMLC
@DavidOByrneMP
@Indy4Franklin
@WilkieMP
@BarnsGreg

[Robert Hogan @theutaspapers]

Another Ombudsman decision against UTAS underlines the University’s culture of secrecy

The Tasmanian Ombudsman has decided another Right to Information (RTI) case in my favour against UTAS - that's 5 out of 5 now.

I have published the decision in a blog post at: https://t.co/gWdpeNAf6V

My blog post also provides commentary on UTAS' RTI record and it's woeful lack of public transparency.

I also take a close look at UTAS' submission, made on behalf of VC Black, to the Independent Review of Tasmania’s Right to Information Framework - a document that says way more about UTAS (and VC Black) than it does about RTI.

#politas
@WilkieMP
@LeonCompton
@AdamHolmes010
@MattDenholm
@BarnsGreg

[Robert Hogan @theutaspapers]

Bizarre appointment of UTAS VC, Rufus Black, to Deloitte Board raises questions

See my latest blog post at: https://t.co/6KLZCmTW8T

#politas
@WilkieMP
@LeonCompton
@AdamHolmes010
@MattDenholm
@BarnsGreg

[Robert Hogan @theutaspapers]

Hi Pat. Only has to have UTAS registered as a client if he is lobbying the Government. More likely he was/is lobbying the Opposition and/or unions for UTAS, but UTAS' RTI response should tell the story.

[Robert Hogan @theutaspapers]

UTAS’ relationship with former Labor Premier, Paul Lennon AO, warrants scrutiny

See my latest blog post at: https://t.co/3T4oN2rlcR

#politas
@WilkieMP
@LeonCompton
@BarnsGreg

[Robert Hogan @theutaspapers]

(I have been asked to repost).

If you live in Clark and want UTAS to remain at Sandy Bay, but are still intending to vote Liberal in the State election, see the advice below.

#politas
#auspol

For further background to my advice, see: https://t.co/DiMW5XvApr

How to vote:

[Robert Hogan @theutaspapers]

@gasugasu1984 Thanks. I fixed this in my original tweet, but left it in the photo. I'm not sure whether to repost or leave it as it is. What do you think?

[Robert Hogan @theutaspapers]

If you live in Clark and want UTAS to remain at Sandy Bay, but are still intending to vote Liberal in the State election, see the advice below.
#politas
#auspol

For further background to my advice, see: https://t.co/DiMW5XvApr

How to vote: