The ACT Greens are backing a proposal to cap the University of Canberra vice-chancellor’s salary at no more than the prime minister’s pay as part of a broader push to overhaul the university’s governance.

The proposal, put forward by the National Tertiary Education Union, comes after it emerged the university’s vice-chancellor Bill Shorten receives about $860,000 a year, compared with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s annual salary of $607,516. In comparison, a backbencher legislative member in the ACT draws an annual salary of $218,186.

Education spokesperson Laura Nuttall said the ACT Legislative Assembly had a responsibility to ensure the University of Canberra was well governed, arguing there was no justification for the vice-chancellor to earn significantly more than the nation’s elected leader.

The union has proposed 10 changes to the University of Canberra Act, including greater transparency through the publication of council minutes, disclosure of contract spending, conflict-of-interest registers and requiring at least 40 per cent of university council members to be elected by staff and students.

The Greens said they would work with the ACT Government, the university and the union to implement the reforms.

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