Two petitions – one for staff and one for students – are calling for the reversal of Renew ANU cuts and for the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor to be sacked. Photo: James Coleman.
The Australian National University has confirmed it has established a Senate Hearing Governance Group to investigate allegations of misconduct, harassment, bullying and intimidation by senior officers and employees.
The move had been alluded to in the ANU’s self-assurance letter to the national regulator, and it’s now confirmed that former senior public servant Andrew Metcalfe will chair the group. Provost Professor Rebekah Brown and Professor Christine Nixon (who headed up the inquiry into gender and culture at the former ANU College of Health and Medicine and its constituent schools) will also be members.
“It is understandable that this situation will and has impacted our broader community, and if you are feeling unsettled, anxious or distressed, please access the support options and external services available,” the ANU stated in an all-staff email on Tuesday (26 August) evening.
“The group first met on 20 August and is committed to overseeing a process that is fair and just, trauma-informed, restores public trust, and keeps the community informed.”
The announcement has already been slammed by vocal critics of the ANU’s leadership and Renew ANU process.
National Tertiary Education Union ACT division secretary Dr Lachlan Clohesy said a new investigation wasn’t necessary given the national regulator was already probing the allegations.
“That investigation potentially relates to the Chancellor, Pro-Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, the Chief Operating Officer, and others,” he said.
“The rot is so deep at the ANU that there can be no confidence in an investigation that the ANU has any role conducting or overseeing.”
The union has launched a petition in response to the ANU’s announcement.
“[We’re] urging ANU council to sack the chancellor and vice-chancellor, end forced redundancies and stop closing entire areas like the School of Music,” Dr Clohesy said.
“We don’t need a new investigation; we need new leadership.”
Independent ACT Senator David Pocock questioned how this investigation process could be trusted.
“I fail to see how a process overseen by Council can, in any way, be construed as independent given the clear conflicts of interest,” he said.
“I maintain that following not one but two resignations from council and corroborated testimony to a Senate committee inquiry, it is not only appropriate but the responsibility of council to require the Chancellor to step aside while these matters are investigated by a truly independent third party.”
Student protest group No Cuts at ANU has called on the ANU Student Association (ANUSA) to call a special general meeting to vote on an official motion for the institution to sack Chancellor Julie Bishop and Vice-Chancellor Genevieve Bell, as well as reverse the Renew ANU cuts.
Co-convenor Lucy Chapman-Kelly said the recent decision by the Labor and Coalition to block Mr Pocock’s motions to release several ANU documents had seen the group widen their focus.
“Bishop and Bell are consistently putting their own million-dollar salaries and fully funded holidays to Dubai over staff jobs and our education,” she said.
“Students and staff have had enough. The NTEU had an over-95 per cent no-confidence vote in leadership last semester, and now students are having their own.”
The ANU has also released details about the second Voluntary Separation Scheme, which will open this Friday (29 August).
“The arrangements for the VSS mirror those offered under the earlier 2025 scheme,” a spokesperson said.
“An overview is now available on the Renew ANU website. Further details will be shared on Friday alongside application forms, and information sessions will be held next week.”
The university questioned why the NTEU was holding a petition to pause Renew ANU, stating that this would remove several initiatives aimed at improving its financial bottom line.
“We are on a journey to financial sustainability and have met with the union 30 times since October to collectively work on these issues,” the spokesperson said.
“We are surprised the NTEU is calling on the pause of Renew, which includes removing VSS for staff, hiring controls to manage headcount and financial controls and budgetary oversight.”
