By Sarah McCrea
The ANU Executive team has returned to address the Senate committee in the October round of Estimates, appearing on Friday 10 October. This follows the ANU’s last appearance at the Senate Estimates in February, where, among other things, an absent Chancellor Julie Bishop was accused of “lavishing university funds”.
Chancellor and Interim Vice-Chancellor Respond to Summons
Chancellor Julie Bishop was thanked for attending the Estimates. She had voiced to the Senate, on short notice, her intention to appear online from Perth as a result of her duties as Special Envoy to Myanmar. However, the Senate requested she appear in person given her absence at the previous Estimates earlier this year, a request she complied with.
Bishop began by confirming the ANU will be in a “break-even” financial operating result by 2026. She discussed Renew ANU saying there had been “mixed responses” and that “some welcome the changes and embrace them”.
Interim Vice-Chancellor Rebekah Brown also spoke, beginning by acknowledging the impacts of Renew ANU, saying “to those in our community who have been hurt…I am deeply sorry”. She later described Renew ANU as “effective” in achieving financial stability.
Professor Brown confirmed that Renew ANU was in the process of completion, and that groundwork was to be laid, in coordination with staff and students, for the ANU’s next “strategic plan.” Brown highlighted her intentions of building stability and trust which she intends to do by “listening” and “showing up.”
“We remain united,” concluded the interim Vice-Chancellor.
However, later in the evening, Senator Faruqi criticised Brown’s involvement in the “pretty disastrous” centralisation of the professional services process under Renew ANU, asking, “Why didn’t you do anything to stop that plan when you had the chance?”
“Why is it only now that you’re the Interim VC that you are saying ‘Renew ANU should have a stronger focus on revenue rather than cutting expenses?’”
Brown responded that she did not have “the delegated authority or position” to stop these plans, but had “introduced a number of mechanisms and initiatives to improve Renew ANU.” She added that her view that academic plans and university strategies should inform change proposals “was not the view held around me.”
Further on in the Estimates, in response to a question of whether she “backed” Chancellor Bishop, Brown pointed to the position of support taken by the Council.
The Perth Office and the Philanthropic Community of Perth
Last Senate Estimates, Bishop was criticised for “lavishing university funds”, including spending on her office in Perth, to which $800,000 of ANU funding was allocated. Senator Sheldon questioned Bishop, asking “When you’re cutting jobs, cutting courses, attempting to freeze wages, is it appropriate for you to be spending enormous sums of ANU money on yourself?”
Bishop proclaimed “a vision was presented to me” of ANU expanding outside of Canberra. She justified the spending, stating, “It’s not the Chancellor’s office: it’s the ANU office.”
“From my personal connections with the Perth philanthropic community – which would not have occurred had we not had an office in Perth – we’ve raised over $10 million in donations.”
She added there was “great enthusiasm” about the office and “it would be strategically advantageous for ANU to be based on the East Coast and the West Coast to take advantage of the significant economic prowess of the great state of Western Australia.”
Western Australia’s strategic geopolitical significance was mentioned as a rationale, as well as a collaborative relationship with the University of Western Australia which formed as a result of the office.
Chancellor Bishop confirmed in the Estimates that the ANU Perth Office is set to close.
“I Don’t Accept Your Words”: Bishop Asked to Take Responsibility
Senator Sheldon listed the numerous allegations, scandals, and situations which created discontent within the ANU and its leadership, including concerns over Bishop’s travel expenses, allegations of bullying and harassment, and declining staff satisfaction. Senator Sheldon stated staff and students were calling for Bishop’s dismissal, saying “they don’t want you.” Bishop responded “that’s not the feedback I’ve been getting.”
After Bishop discussed the responsibilities of the Council, Senator Sheldon commented it’s “not a matter for the Council to take responsibility, it’s the person at the top of the show. You’re at the top of the show… This has all happened under your leadership.”
“If I have made a mistake, I apologise. If the Council has made a mistake, on behalf of the Council, I would apologise,” Bishop stated, then refusing to apologise for any matters in particular.
The back-and-forth continued, with Senator Sheldon discussing the “substantial losses of money”, mass redundancies and institutional issues that had occurred under the “watch” of Bishop as Chancellor. He asked, “are you going to take responsibility for it?”
“I don’t accept your words”, said Chancellor Bishop.
She further rejected “virtually” every allegation made against her.
UniForum Data: Allegations ANU Misled the Senate
UniForum is a method for benchmarking effectiveness and efficiency at universities. At the last Senate Estimates, ANU took a question on notice about whether the underlying data and methodology behind its UniForum surveys — which were used to inform Renew ANU — were publicly accessible. ANU had replied that the data was available to the community.
At this Senate Estimates, Senator Faruqi followed up, asking whether “the underlying UniForum data and methodology” specifically had been made available. ANU Chief Financial Officer Michael Lonergan clarified that the community only had access to reports, not the raw data, and that “we provided an explainer.” Senator Faruqi then alleged the ANU had misled the Senate in their response to the question taken on notice last Estimates.
A new question was taken on notice asking whether ANU’s contract with Nous Group would prevent the university from sharing the raw UniForum data. UniForum is owned by Cubane Consulting – the company name Lonergan used – but Cubane was acquired by Nous Group in 2021. Nous Group is notoriously involved in Renew ANU change proposals, some of which UniForum data was used to inform.
Lonergan rejected the allegation that the ANU had misled the Senate. Senator Faruqi concluded, “You can reject the allegation but it’s there in black and white.”
Results of TEQSA Investigation into ANU Will be Released Mid-next Year
In June this year, Minister of Education Jason Clare referred concerns about the ANU to TEQSA, the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency. An independent expert, former Public Service Commissioner Lynelle Briggs, was appointed by TEQSA to assess ANU compliance with regulation and standards.
In the Estimates, it was clarified that upon the completion of her assessment, a commission from TEQSA would make conditions and/or requirements to the university. This would be made available to the public upon the completion of the entire assessment, with personal and confidential details omitted. A provisional completion date was the end of April 2026.
The ANU’s self assurance report it had provided to TEQSA was referenced, in which the university proclaimed that the several open letters staff and students had written criticising ANU leadership actually was an indicator of positive leadership as “staff are not afraid to voice concerns.”
One question that remains unanswered from Friday’s Senate Estimates is how much former Vice-Chancellor Genevieve Bell was remunerated as part of her resignation.
The next Senate Estimates will be in early December.
More to come.
Graphics by Shé Chani
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