4 days ago
David Pocock calls for ANU Chancellor Julie Bishop to stand aside while bullying allegations investigated
ACT independent Senator David Pocock has called for the Australian National University (ANU) Chancellor Julie Bishop to stand aside while bullying allegations against her are investigated.
Warning: This story contains details some readers may find distressing.
ANU academic Liz Allen yesterday appeared at a Senate committee hearing, where she accused Ms Bishop and other members of the executive of bullying.
Dr Allen said that since 2024, she had experienced "threats, intimidation and bullying, because I sought greater probity of council conduct".
Dr Allen said that as a result of the distress she experienced, she became suicidal.
"I was bullied into near suicide. I miscarried a much-wanted baby," she told the Senate committee hearing.
"I've lost the opportunity of a promotion. I fear for my job and my career has been derailed.
In a statement, Ms Bishop denied any wrongdoing.
"I reject any suggestion that I have engaged with Council members, staff, students and observers in any way other than with respect, courtesy and civility," she said.
"The witness concerned has initiated grievance proceedings and it is not appropriate for me to comment further at this time."
This morning, Senator Pocock, who is part of the Senate committee, said "everyone in the room was really moved" by Dr Allen's submissions.
"It just highlights the human toll of poor governance and poor leadership at the ANU," he said.
"This is something I've been hearing about from staff and students there for months and months and months now.
"Someone like Liz Allen has put a big chunk of her life into helping build the ANU."
Senator Pocock said there were very "serious problems at the ANU ... and I think we should expect better".
"Our national university should be setting the standard when it comes to governance and that is not happening," he said.
He said he believed Ms Bishop should step aside while the allegations were investigated.
Dr Allen was not alone in her criticisms of the council or Ms Bishop.
ANU Students' Association president William Burfoot is also the undergraduate student member of the 15-member ANU Council and told the Senate inquiry that he had "serious issues" with how the council operated.
He said he felt "unfairly targeted" at a council meeting earlier this year, along with Dr Allen.
"Our integrity was questioned and it was not so subtly suggested that we might have been the cause of leaks to media," he said.
"This environment and culture is certainly not what I would have expected from such an important body and it has left me profoundly discontent with council."
He told the inquiry that Ms Bishop was "demeaning" and "dismissive" at the meeting.
Mr Burfoot said students felt "betrayed" by the university.
"We have students who have come from all parts of Australia and internationally that have come to the ANU because of its reputation," he said.
"Students feel betrayed. They signed up to a university that is not what they expected."
He said there was an increasing risk students would choose not to study at ANU, or leave the university before graduating.
"Many report they are unable to participate in their tutorials anymore," he said.
"With so many people in the class, they are forced to sit on the ground if they want to be involved.
"Students are angry that their time at university is getting worse and that there has been no meaningful consultation on the cuts or the university's future direction.
"Make no mistake: the ANU is in crisis."
The university is currently proposing a number of changes, including cutting jobs and absorbing the School of Music into a new School of Creative and Cultural Practice.
It will also abolish the National Dictionary Centre and downsize the National Centre for Biography.
Freestanding centres such as the Humanities Research Centre and the Centre for European Studies would also be cut under the proposal.
It is part of broader cost-cutting measures in what the university said was a bid to save $250 million.
The university recorded operating deficits of more than $400 million between 2020 and 2023 and despite a financial plan being put in place, the university said last year it remained on an "unsustainable trajectory".
Last month, the university announced it would cut a further 59 jobs, in addition to 41 previously announced in June.
At the time, Vice-Chancellor Genevieve Bell said the proposal was still subject to change.
"Last year, for instance, we had multiple change plans and in each one of those instances, the number of staff that was impacted changed and it became a smaller number in those plans," she said.
In March, she responded directly to criticism of her leadership and that of Ms Bishop.
"I am not dismissive of the fact that people are concerned about their livelihoods and their jobs," she said.
