ANUSA president and ANU Council member Will Burfoot revealed a vote to pause Renew ANU was blocked by Chancellor Julie Bishop. Photo: Screenshot.
CONTENT WARNING: This story mentions suicide and pregnancy loss.
Story updated to include response from ANU Chancellor Julie Bishop.
Australian National University council members were prevented from voting on pausing the Renew ANU program during an out-of-session meeting two months ago.
The revelation was made public during Senate inquiry hearings into the quality of governance at Australian higher education providers on Tuesday (12 August).
ANU Students’ Association president and council member Will Burfoot told the inquiry a motion had been brought on 3 July to pause the restructuring program until the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) had finished its investigation into alleged legislative breaches by the university.
“This motion was not brought to a vote and, in my opinion, no satisfactory reason was given [as to] why,” he said.
“Following this, and the leaking matter discussed in the meeting, council access to documents, information, briefings, senior executives and further out-of-session council meetings were cancelled.
“It is my opinion that this step was taken, not to ensure the safety or security of future council meetings, but to punish council members for raising concerns and to limit our oversight during a period when many change proposals were being released.”
When questioned by ACT independent Senator David Pocock about why a vote couldn’t go ahead, Mr Burfoot said he didn’t know “how it wasn’t brought to a vote” as they had a quorum.
“When the motion was brought up … the Chancellor [Julie Bishop] dismissed the motion. She said that it wasn’t appropriate for us to vote on it; that other members needed to come back into the meeting,” he said.
“Those excuses, to me, are exactly that, excuses. It is my opinion that that motion wasn’t voted on because, at the time, it would have passed … there was a deliberate attempt by the Chancellor to obfuscate, to distract and to deflect from that motion.”
Details about this quashed motion were leaked to the media, which led the ANU to announce in the all-staff newsletter on 8 July that it was searching for the culprits as it was a “potential breach of Council confidentiality”.
Dr Liz Allen said she had been targeted by ANU leadership over her concerns about university governance and council operations. Photo: Screenshot.
Mr Burfoot said both he and former council member Dr Liz Allen (who resigned from the council in April) were accused of being behind the leaks.
Dr Allen said she has experienced harassment, bullying and mistreatment over allegations she leaked council information to the media, as well as raising governance questions, and 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 said.
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.
Mr Burfoot also claimed Ms Bishop had targeted him.
“I do believe [her comments to me] were completely inappropriate.”
Dr Allen asked the university to investigate her complaint about bullying, harassment and intimidation. Her complaint was eventually referred to Education Minister Jason Clare by Senator Pocock.
The ANU Council is a 15-member council. Its primary functions are to provide strategic oversight of the university, ensure effective overall governance and management of the university, and ensure responsible financial and risk management of the university.
Some representatives are elected while others are appointed.
Dr Allen said she raised concerns that the council wasn’t being told the whole truth, and she was seen as an aggressor.
“My experience with council is that there is a careful curation and manipulation of information that is presented to council,” she said.
“Council never know what they don’t know, and that is a deeply concerning issue.
“ANU leaders behave with impunity, keep council in the dark, and fail to adequately disclose conflicts.”
ANU representatives are scheduled to appear before the hearing this afternoon.
In a statement to Region Ms Bishop rejected the claims made about her conduct.
“I reject any suggestion that I have engaged with Council members, staff, students and observers in any way other than with respect, courtesy and civility,” she said.
“The witness concerned has initiated grievance proceedings and it is not appropriate for me to comment further at this time.”
If this story has raised issues for you, a free 24/7 crisis support service is available from Lifeline by calling 13 11 14 or texting 0477 13 11 14, or contact Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636. Red Nose has a pregnancy bereavement service available 24/7 on 1300 308 307.
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