BREAKING: Sydney University has become the latest elite university to admit to underpayment of casual staff with about 8.8 million dollars to be repaid. The ABC has seen emails from March this year in which staff at Sydney University unsuccessfully sought payment for hours worked

In an email to all staff Sydney University Vice Chancellor Michael Spence said the university had engaged auditors after reports of wage theft at other institutions. Last week the ABC’s investigation saw the fair work ombudsmen investigate the University of Melbourne.

Mr Spence’s email expressed regret for what he said were mistakes. Today’s news means 4 of Australia’s elite G8 universities are repaying staff after practices unions say are endemic across the sector.

AEU President Alison Barnes said "We need tougher penalties for wage theft now. But we also need to end the mass casualisation of University staff, which creates the conditions for wage theft in the first place.”

In my excitement at staff being repaid I said AEU President when I should have said NTEU, please forgive my error