Dr Vivienne Thom will run a confidential investigation. Photo: IPAA.
A former Australian Government investigator will lead a confidential inquiry into issues raised during the Senate hearing of 12 August in which explosive allegations were levelled at the leadership of the Australian National University, including Chancellor Julie Bishop.
The ANU Special Governance Committee, established in the wake of the hearing, has appointed Dr Vivienne Thom to investigate claims by former ANU Council member and demographer Dr Liz Allen that she experienced harassment, bullying, and mistreatment over allegations that she leaked Council information to the media, as well as raising governance questions.
Dr Allen said this had driven her to consider suicide.
“I believe Chancellor Bishop is arrogant and hostile to staff, and that previous Vice Chancellor Brian Schmidt kept [her] in check,” she told the Senate hearing.
Dr Allen described an interaction she had with Chancellor Bishop over accusations she had leaked council information, where she was brought into a private room with another council member.
“[She] further berated me, suggested commencing legal action, and called a journalist to confirm I wasn’t leaking,” she said.
“It affected me so deeply that on the drive home, I decided to kill myself. I pulled over to write my final goodbyes to my partner and my children.”
Dr Allen was pregnant at the time and, in the following fortnight, miscarried the baby.
“At no time have I leaked confidential council business … I have merely tried to hold leadership accountable,” she said.
Dr Allen also accused ANU senior executives of failing to disclose conflicts of interest and differential treatment.
Ms Bishop has vigorously defended herself against the allegations.
The ANU posted details of the appointment and the investigation’s terms of reference on its website on 1 October.
It stated that the investigation would be conducted on a strictly confidential basis and that there would be no public interviews or release of any information to the public during its course.
The conduct of the investigation would take a trauma-informed approach and conform to the principles of natural justice and procedural fairness.
Matters outside its scope would be the governance, leadership and culture of the University generally; the University Council, apart from those issues arising from the Senate hearing; any allegations or matters already covered by and included in the TEQSA inquiry; any current Australian National Audit Office review of the University’s Governance and Control Framework; any matter or allegation referred to, required to be referred to or being investigated by the Commonwealth Ombudsman, the NACC and/or Comcare, unless approved by these agencies.
The investigation may include reviewing and considering relevant University policies concerning workplace conduct, conflict of interest and codes of conduct for employees and Council members.
Dr Thom is an independent consultant in the field of public administration with a focus on integrity and governance.
She has held several high-profile leadership roles, including serving as Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, where she oversaw Australia’s intelligence agencies.
Dr Thom has a strong track record of conducting complex and sensitive inquiries, such as chairing the Parliamentary Leadership Taskforce for the Set the Standard report and leading the IGADF Afghanistan Inquiry Implementation Oversight Panel.
Committee chair Andrew Metcalfe said the committee was dedicated to a fair and thorough process, as well as to transparency, accountability, and the highest standards of governance.
Mr Metcalfe said Dr Thom was exceptionally well placed to conduct the investigation.
“We understand that there will be questions about the nature of the complaints and the outcome of the investigation,” he said.
“While we are committed to sharing as much information as we lawfully and ethically can, we will not pre-empt the findings or compromise the confidentiality of the process.”
Dr Thom does not have a reporting date, but the investigation is to be completed “as expeditiously as a proper consideration of the matters allows”.
The ANU will face Senate estimates late on Friday (10 October).
