Union slams University's $185 million surplus after cuts to staff, courses but uni says it's a one-off

BOTTOM LINE: The University of Newcastle has posted a surplus of $185.72 million, but claims the "underlying surplus" is actually about $6 million.

The tertiary education union has lashed the University of Newcastle for posting a $185 million surplus while cutting staff and reducing courses, but the university has defended the figures as a "much, much smaller underlying surplus".

The university's 2021 annual report was tabled in NSW Parliament on Monday with a $185.27 million net result.