MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY

STAFF CONSULATIVE GROUP

MINUTES OF MEETING OF 14 DECEMBER 2006

Minutes of the meeting of the Staff Consultative Group held on 14 December 2006 at 9.00 am in the Senate Room, Level 3, Lincoln Building.

Present:
			Mr John Andrews					G7
			Dr Peter Browne					A10
Ms Leanne Cameron				G8
			Ms Robyn Clarke					G2
			Ms Phoebe Dangerfield				G6
Mr Edward Davies					CPSU
			Ms Stephanie Grolimund				NTEU
Mr David Hackett					G9
			Associate Professor Ritchie Howitt		A8
Dr Rosalind Kitson					A4
			Mr Ryan Lawson					G3
Associate Professor Julian Leslie			A3
			Associate Professor Catriona MacKenzie	A7
Ms Meredith Martinelli				G1
			Mr Michael Martson					G5
Ms Dianne Mitchell  				CPSU
			Mr Lachlan Morgan					G4
			Mr Rod Nurthen					G12
Ms Cathy Rytmeister				A1
			Mr Vasantha Saparamadu			NTEU
			Ms Cathie Shanley					G13
Ms Sue Spinks					A9
Mr Greg Stark					CPSU
Dr Iain Stewart					A6
			Ms Sondra Wibberley				CPSU
			Ms Cathy Wright					G14
Guests:
			Ms Sharon Kraemer					Human Resources
Mr Tim Sprague					Human Resources

Apologies:		
Associate Professor Suzan Burton		A2
Ms Christine Jones					G11
Ms Carolyn Kennett					NTEU
Ms Alana Freeburn					NTEU
			
The apologies as listed above were noted.

1.	Welcome and introduction
Tim Sprague—as Director, Human Resources—opened the proceedings.	
2.	ELECTION OF THE CHAIR OF SCG
Tim Sprague proposed and the meeting agreed
Resolution 06/1
That the term of office of the Chair of the SCG be one year.
Resolution 06/2
That election of the Chair of the SCG be by show of hands and by simple majority.
Carolyn Kennett was elected to the Chair.
Since she was not present (being on leave), it was agreed that Iain Stewart would chair this meeting.	
3.	AGENDA
The following further agenda items were identified for discussion (they include all of the items that had been previously circulated as elements of a Draft Agenda):
4.  Schedule of meetings for 2007
5.  Committee to plan future discussions
6.  Deputy Chair
7.  Election of staff pool for committees
8.  Provision of policy
9.  Update on policy development
10.  Performance development and review program update
11.  Time release
12.  Communications
13.  Vacancies
14.  Other business	
4.	SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS FOR 2007
It was agreed
Resolution 06/3
That the next meeting of the SCG be from 9 am to 12 noon on 14 February 2006.
(Note:  the meeting will take place in the Senate Room.)	
5.	COMMITTEE TO PLAN FUTURE DISCUSSSIONS
It was agreed
Resolution 06/4
That
(1)  a Working Party be established, to
(a)  review the terms of reference of the SCG
(b)  draw up rules of procedure for the SCG
(2)  the membership of the Working Party be
•	the Chair
•	2 members of the SCG who are general staff
•	2 members of the SCG who are academic staff
(3)  the election of general staff and academic staff members be conducted by
 show of hands and simple majority
(4)  all members of the SCG may vote in an election for any of the general staff
and academic staff positions.
The following members of the SCG were elected to the Working Party:
General staff:
John Andrews
Cathy Wright
Academic staff:
Cathy Rytmeister
Iain Stewart
The meeting noted that it had achieved a gender balance among these members.	
6.	DEPUTY CHAIR
It was agreed
Resolution 06/5
That there be a Deputy Chair of the SCG, whose term of office and mode of election shall be the same as those of the Chair.
Resolution 06/6
That nominations for the Deputy Chair be invited, to be communicated to the Chair before or at the next meeting.	
7.	ELECTION OF STAFF POOL FOR COMMITTEES
Members had been provided with a list of the staff who had nominated for the pool from which staff may be selected by the affected staff member in establishing an Unsatisfactory Performance Review Committee (Agreement 4.20.10), a Misconduct Investigation Committee (Agreement 4.21.19) or a Redundancy Review Committee (Agreement 6.2.21).
It was noted that the Agreement refers to members of this pool as ‘elected’ but does not provide for a method of election.  The meeting considered whether any staff listed as nominated for the pool should not be elected and whether any other staff had nominated.  It was informed that no other eligible staff had nominated.
It was agreed
Resolution 06/7
That all staff on the list of Staff Pool Nominations 2006 be elected to the pool.	
8-10.	8.  Provision of policy
9.  Update on policy development
10.  Performance development and review program update
Tim Sprague gave an extensive presentation on these topics.  He drew particular attention to the projected Planning and Performance Review Framework.
Members emphasised that the SCG and all staff of the University should be provided with policy plans at a very early stage, so that they may become fully involved in policy developments affecting the University community.  Particular reference was made to the draft Space Allocation Guidelines issued on 16 November.
Members had earlier been provided with several of the University’s recently revised policies.  There was discussion of the status of these versions, which were published prior to consultation with the SCG in order to bring those policies quickly into line with the new Agreement.  Tim Sprague confirmed that there had been urgency, since such conformity was a legal requirement, although some policies had been agreed in consultation with the bargaining team during negotiations for the new Agreement.  He also stated that the University, from time to time, will publish policy revisions between SCG meetings where there is a pressing need—although the SCG has the ability to review any policy on matters affecting employment (including areas beyond Human Resources) at any time.  It was noted that the SCG will review these policies individually.	
11.	TIME RELEASE
The meeting discussed the availability of time release for participation in SCG business and the particular importance of arranging time release for general staff.
Tim Sprague agreed to write to the managers/supervisors of SCG members in this regard.	
12.	COMMUNICATIONS
There was discussion of processes of communication between
•	SCG members
•	SCG members and their constituents
•	the SCG and the Administration
•	the SCG and the University community.
As to the first, it was agreed
Resolution 06/8
That there be an SCG email list, available to SCG members.
As to the last, it was agreed
Resolution 06/9
That there be an SCG website, similar to that of the Academic Senate and to contain meeting dates, agendas and minutes, as well as the SCG membership with their contact details.
(Note:  The Academic Senate website is available through the University’s homepage.  Its direct address is <http://www.mq.edu.au/senate>.)	
13.	VACANCIES
It was agreed that among the procedural matters to be considered by the Working Party should be a provision for the filling of casual vacancies on the SCG.	
14.	OTHER BUSINESS
The SCG accepted Tim Sprague’s offer to provide administrative support.	
There being no further business, the meeting was declared closed at 12.05 pm.

…………………………………	Carolyn Kennett, Chair
…………………………………	Date