Hundreds of university students and staff gathered at Parliament House on Wednesday to protest a proposed merger between Curtin, Murdoch and the University of Western Australia.

The State Government has appointed a steering committee to form a business case for the proposal, which could see a combined university serve an estimated 120,000 students, making it the largest in Australia.

Speakers at the protest criticised the government for not consulting with students about the merger and for prioritising financial interests over education goals.

Kristian Bagaporo, an international student studying psychology at Murdoch University, said international students deserved a voice.

“We’re currently facing a lot of problems like the student visa changes and now the uni merger,” she said.

“This is reforming something that is not necessary.”

She said students wanted Parliament to “hear their thoughts, their rage, their anger.”

Curtin and Murdoch vice chancellors have expressed staunch opposition to the merger, saying it would reduce student choice and academic diversity.

The University of WA said the merger was an opportunity to build the school’s international presence, but needed to be supported by a compelling business case.

Dr Marziya Mohammedali is a sessional lecturer at Edith Cowan University and Curtin University.

“The case for the merger is absolutely disastrous and we’re seeing already from what happened in South Australia that merging the universities… has resulted in a lot of negative experiences for staff and students,” they said.

“The [Deloitte anaylsis] says this is a business case and there are going to be jobs created, but… we’re asking what kind of jobs are being created? We can’t see jobs in our areas.”

The 2025 Deloitte report, released for the first time by the State Government on October 11, found the merger would reduce competition between WA’s universities and improve outcomes for regional students.

But the report, which cost the State Government $166,000, has been critisised after some citations were found to be AI-generated.

The protest was organised by the National Union of Students, the National Tertiary Education Union, guild leaders from the three universities, and the WA Greens.

Shadow Education Minister Liam Staltari was booed when attempting to speak against the merger.

In 2025, the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia combined to create Adelaide University.

Adelaide University said last week it was considering volunteer redundancy and early retirement packages after admitting international student enrolment was 40 per cent below estimates and revenue was short $90 million since the merger.

WA’s Tertiary Education Minister Tony Buti did not attend the protest, but has said the merger would only happen if the business case made sense.

Another protest is scheduled for November 7 at the Supreme Court Gardens.