Bishop stares down critics as embattled ANU vice chancellor resigns

Embattled Australian National University vice chancellor Genevieve Bell has resigned from her million-dollar role, closing a tumultuous chapter for the institution which has included open staff revolt, the launch of external investigation and an ongoing public relations crisis.

But the drama is far from over after the university’s chancellor Julie Bishop vowed to stay on as head of the institution’s governing body until her term ends in 2026, despite being the subject of bullying allegations, which she denies.

Bell’s resignation comes almost a year after the institution first announced contentious plans to slash jobs in a bid to balance its books, sparking criticism from academics that the university’s council had for years been asleep at the wheel while its financial position fell off a cliff. Last year it recorded an operational deficit of $140 million.

Professor Bell on Thursday said “this was not an easy decision” and acknowledged the difficulties the university has faced in trying to shore up its financial position.

“Achieving such a foundation has been difficult and this has been a very hard time for our community,” she said.

“I very much want to see the ANU thrive into the future and for it to continue to be a remarkable place and I don’t want to stand in the way of that.”

Many other universities across the country facing financial turmoil have announced plans to cut staff, but none has triggered the scale of virulent staff reaction seen at ANU – where academics have taken aim at poor management decisions, failures to disclose conflicts of interests, and worsening performance in international league tables.

Bell has faced votes of no confidence in her leadership, public calls for her resignation and a protest website set up whereby current and former staff have uploaded pictures of their shoes – an apparent response to the perceived ostentation of Bell’s choice of footwear, Golden Goose sneakers which retail at between $690 and $1315. (Bell says she bought her pair cheap on eBay.)

At a meeting on Thursday, Bishop informed staff of Bell’s resignation which was met with cheers of applause from the audience.

Bishop herself is the subject of an independent investigation after a former member of the ANU’s governing council, Dr Liz Allen, recounted to a Senate committee in August how Bishop allegedly berated, laughed at and blocked her from leaving a room when confronting her with claims of leaking confidential information to the media.

Asked about those bullying allegations, Bishop told the meeting: “I reject each and every allegation that’s been made against me.”

When Bishop finished addressing the bullying allegations, a staff member called out “solidarity with Liz”, prompting cheers of “hip, hip, hooray” from the audience.

At a press conference afterward, Bishop was asked why she should remain in her position as chancellor after the university fell into a dire financial situation.

“[The] financial situation as it currently stands, began a very long time ago, and I am aware that when I became chancellor in January of 2020, that we had some serious financial challenges, we then went immediately into the lockdown relating to COVID, and that had dramatic impacts, but the structural flaws in our financial situation date back years,” Bishop said.

“This is a hard day for any university, and I felt that people were, of course, emotional. I feel very emotional about it, a number of people do.”

The institution’s interim vice chancellor Rebekah Brown told staff it was her goal for ANU to once again be the country’s number one university with the best student and staff experience.

“I’ve been in this role, I think, about an hour, I can’t speak on behalf of every senior leader in the organisation, but what I can say is that there is very deep care and concern for everyone, there’s very deep care and concern about the direction we are heading in,” she said.

But many believe that future direction should not include Bishop.

The National Tertiary Education Union’s ACT division secretary Dr Lachlan Clohesy said: “The chancellor still faces serious allegations, and under her watch ANU is now subject to investigation by TEQSA and the Fair Work Ombudsman.”

ANU student and president of the National Union of Students Ashlyn Horton welcomed Bell’s resignation but also questioned Bishop’s role in the institution’s future.

“It’s something that staff and students have been calling for, for a very long time, [and] the first thought that pops into my head now is: when is Julie Bishop going to go?”

ACT Senator David Pocock said further leadership renewal was needed.

“The chancellor faces serious bullying and workplace harassment allegations and has presided over a period that saw a significant decline in the university’s financial position and governance arrangements,” he said.

Labor Senator Tony Sheldon said the resignation of Bell was a “direct result of the catastrophic failure of governance in our universities” and also took aim at Bishop.

“Chancellor Julie Bishop led the ANU Council during this period, and ultimately, the buck stops with her. Under her leadership, the Council signed off on sweeping restructures, oversaw rising dissatisfaction among students and staff, including senior academics, and failed to provide transparency around serious governance concerns,” he said.

Education Minister Jason Clare said he wished Bell “well for the future”.

“Significant governance concerns at ANU have been raised with me. That’s why l’ve referred ANU’s governance to [Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency] for assessment,” he said.

“TEQSA recently appointed former Public Service Commissioner Lynelle Briggs to inform that work.”

Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter.