‘Voices from the chalkface’: the senate inquiry into the capacity of public universities to meet Australia's higher education needs

In October 2000 the Senate instigated an inquiry into the capacity of public universities to meet Australia's higher education needs. From March 2001 the Committee heard evidence from 219 witnesses at 15 hearings, and received 364 submissions representing different viewpoints, including those of individual academics. During this process, issues within universities were raised, which, while specific to the Australian scene, also have international relevance. In September 2001, the Committee released its report, Universities in Crisis—the title reflecting a characterization of the Australian higher education sector expressed frequently during the inquiry. This article examines to what extent ‘ordinary academics’ utilized this inquiry to focus attention on the widespread demoralization and anger within academe. It questions whether Australian academics took effective advantage of this opportunity to position themselves—and the conditions under which they work—at the centre of the higher education debate. Just how loud, how strategic, and how effectual were these voices from the chalkface?