ANU spent big on crisis PR before Julie Bishop bullying allegations

If ever there was an institution in dire need of a reputation rebrand, it’s the Australian National University.

Last week’s bombshell senate inquiry allegations, that chancellor and former deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop had berated, laughed at, and bullied academic Liz Allen were just the latest episode to taint a university once known for its outstanding research output, but which of late has become synonymous with chronic mismanagement and white-hot staff anger.

Under the leadership of Bishop and vice chancellor Genevieve Bell, the ANU has lurched from one crisis to the next, a period of malaise that began with the announcement of a divisive restructure last October that aimed to slash $250 million by 2026 and could cost some 650 jobs.

So, last December, the university called in the crisis managers at Bastion, who were engaged to provide advice on media engagement around the restructure. Their services cost the ANU $6108 and Bastion pitched for further work to support the university through 2025.

According to a “confidential project” pitch document released under freedom of information and obtained by CBD, Bastion promised to come up with “a compelling narrative that defines the university’s future”. In a memo, the PR company said the university was “navigating challenges in several areas leading to uncertainty and an increased reputational risk”.

“Internal issues have been compounded by external scrutiny and negative media coverage, further highlighting the need for a strategic and cohesive approach to change, communication and engagement.

Bastion’s pitch would’ve cost the university $157,000 for six months’ work between January and June. Ultimately, the ANU retained the firm only for December, and instead inked a $65,000 deal with rival strategic communications firm 89 Degrees East to help with media management.

All up, it’s a whole lot less than the $185,860 the university spent on a trip to Davos for the World Economic Forum in 2023, where it held a lavish party.

Given what transpired during the first half of the year, the university probably shouldn’t have scrimped on media advice.

We’ve had revelations that, while taking home a circa $1 million taxpayer-funded salary and begging staff to forgo a 2.5 per cent pay rise (an offer that was rejected), Bell was freelancing for Silicon Valley chip manufacturer intel.

Not to mention reports in The Australian Financial Review that the vice chancellor had gone full Liam Neeson on ANU staff, allegedly telling them she would “find you out and hunt you down” if they leaked confidential information.

Whatever “compelling narrative” the experts might’ve come up with, Bell and Bishop have clearly lost control of it. The pair faced a staff vote of no confidence in their leadership, with Education Minister Jason Clare anxiously watching the situation.

Bell did, however, go on ABC radio to dismiss criticism of her performance as due to “sexism” and tall poppy syndrome, as any failing Australian executive is wont to do.

Bishop, meanwhile, has dug her shiny red heels in after facing calls to resign after Allen’s evidence before the Senate last week.

Gina’s Trump bet

World leaders, top economists and Wall Street have all watched the opening months of Donald Trump’s second coming with a feeling of dread, as the US president engages in a capricious trade war against the world.

Apparently unbothered by it all is Australia’s richest person Gina Rinehart, a diehard Trump loyalist who spent last November’s election night at Mar-a-Lago.

Rinehart, whose Hancock Prospecting has a US share portfolio worth around $3.1 billion, just increased its holdings in Trump Media & Technology Group, which owns the president’s favoured platform Truth Social, by 67 per cent, according to filings with the Securities and Investments Commission.

Rinehart’s stake in Trump Media & Technology Group is now worth about $4.5 million. The company reported a $US20 million ($30 million) net loss in the past quarter.

But of course, this is Trump World, where the standard rules of economics do not apply.

The usual suspects

Brace yourselves, Australia’s right-wing Woodstock is back for another year when the Conservative Political Action Conference lands in Brisbane next month.

It’s been a rough year for the nation’s Sky News viewers, forced to watch in horror as Anthony Albanese won 94 seats at the election and consigned the Liberals and Nationals deeper into the wilderness.

And at next month’s gathering, the commonsense mob won’t even get a big international celebrity to rev them up. Past CPACs have been graced by the likes of Nigel Farage and Liz “Lettuce” Truss, but this time, the foreign contingent is limited to a few little-known pundits and blokes who’ve been fired from media gigs. Perhaps the global conservative intelligentsia has decided Australia is simply too woke.

Highlights from the largely local line-up include usual suspects like opposition defence spokesman Angus Taylor, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, Coalition senators Alex Antic and Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, fellow Voice to Parliament wrecker Nyunggai Warren Mundine and senator turned Queensland Liberal MP Amanda Stoker.

We’re sure they’ll come up with a few bold ideas on how to lose even more seats to Labor.