Media release – Angela Bird, SaveUTAS, 13 August 2025
YOUNG TASMANIANS RELY ON THE CROSSBENCH TO SAVE TASMANIA’S ONLY UNI
SaveUTAS is asking each newly elected independent parliamentarian, and the Greens, to put UTAS high on their list of priorities in their discussions with Labor and the Liberals.
SaveUTAS co-chair Angela Bird said,
“Tasmanians lose confidence in their university when they see it shrinking, essential facilities sold off, and the campus broken up. Every Tasmanian parliamentarian, whatever their stripe, should be fighting against this.”
Last year both major parties voted to sell off the STEM facilities of the UTAS Sandy Bay upper campus.
“Independents and the Greens can make support for any government dependent on a promise by Labor and Liberal that they will never again try to damage UTAS in this way,” said Bird.
Last November the Liberal government, with Labor support, ambushed parliament and UTAS staff with a bizarre plan to sell the upper campus buildings. The plan was kept secret to avoid staff and community outrage.
“We want young Tasmanians to see UTAS once again as their preferred choice for higher education.
“That will not happen until they see our political leaders acting constructively by insisting UTAS sell its city properties and put those hundreds of millions of dollars into restoring the Sandy Bay campus, especially its STEM facilities.
“ UTAS offers nothing for young Tasmanians who dream of state-of-the-art STEM facilities . Instead of an achievable STEM renewal that could start right now UTAS has a wasteful extravagant STEM plan that depends on a $500M gift from the Federal government that will never come,” said Bird.
Tasmanian Times (TT) is a community-based news and current affairs service covering the island state of Tasmania. It exists to provide a diverse view of Tasmanian issues. TT creates and supports independent media content utilising the best of modern technologies and tried-and-true practices of public-interest journalism.
Support us in expanding our coverage and developing new content by and for Tasmanians.
New initiatives on the way include:
- a weekly podcast covering current affairs
- a revamped website
- a monthly cartoon competition
- a user-friendly app for both Android and Apple devices
- a weekly roundup of key stories
