This Month
‘Difficult decision’: ANU council member resigns
A member of ANU’s governing body has resigned, citing concerns about the council’s direction and a lack of accountability after months of turmoil.
Pocock says ANU misled Senate, demands inquiry
The university’s vice chancellor, Genevieve Bell, is again under fire after the ACT senator accused her of providing misleading information to an inquiry.
March
ANU council’s ignorance about Bell’s Intel role belies Bishop’s words
Genevieve Bell and Julie Bishop survive vote of no confidence in their leadership, but questions on notice at Senate estimates raise some puzzling issues.
Trump administration cut $1m funding for ANU terrorism research
ANU lost a $923,000 US-funded research grant into terrorism and targeted violence because it no longer “effectuates the priorities” of its backer, the Department of Homeland Security.
Langer suddenly sees the elephant in the boardroom
The director of MinRes has come to some conclusions about what makes a bad corporate culture.
Former ANU chancellor Gareth Evans slams university’s governance
Evans, who was also cabinet minister in the Hawke and Keating governments, has declared the Australian National University lacks competence and judgment.
Inside ANU’s unusual School of Cybernetics
The top university is in the throes of a massive cost-cutting drive but its smallest and least research-intensive school appears to be out of the line of fire.
ANU chancellor Julie Bishop racked up $150,000 in travel expenses
Julie Bishop travelled far and wide as chancellor of Australian National University last year, just as it embarked on an extensive cost-cutting program.
February
ANU quizzed over contracts awarded to chancellor Julie Bishop’s friend
ANU vice chancellor Genevieve Bell was grilled in Senate estimates about contracts awarded to a firm run by Julie Bishop’s long-time employee Murray Hansen.
ANU budget cuts mean fewer courses and crowded tutorials
At one humanities school within the university, the budget for casual and sessional staff had been reduced by about two-thirds.
January
No mention of Bell’s Intel job in key ANU council meeting minutes
The minutes of a meeting to endorse Genevieve Bell as the next head of ANU appear to undermine the claim her role with Intel was “highlighted”.
Julie Bishop hired to advise ASX-listed Greenland explorer
Energy Transition Minerals has become the latest mining client to join the former foreign minister’s consulting stable, which includes Mineral Resources.
Bishop declares responsibility for Bell’s Intel role, rebukes council
ANU chancellor Julie Bishop says she was responsible for negotiating Genevieve Bell’s salary package in full knowledge of her second job with Intel.
December 2024
ANU council members say Bell’s second job was never mentioned
Members of ANU’s governing council dispute being told about the vice chancellor’s second job with global technology company Intel.
ANU alumni call on Julie Bishop to stand vice chancellor aside
A leadership crisis at Australian National University isn’t going away after a group of concerned alumni have called for an investigation and audit.
Former adviser and trade boffin a frontrunner for Fletcher’s seat
Gisele Kapterian will seek to run in Bradfield, the seat of retiring MP Paul Fletcher. The challenger in the once-safe Liberal seat will be teal Nicolette Boele.
ANU deans hauled in for ‘change management’ meetings
Three of the Australian National University’s seven college leaders were summoned to meetings this week where they were told the governing council had lost confidence in them.
Trophies and sequins as Australia’s business leaders gonged
A $70,000 Rolex and a sequined jacket show life is sweet for the victors, though the path isn’t always smooth.
I will ‘hunt you down’: ANU staff rebel at its culture of fear
University staff say they feel demoralised by Genevieve Bell’s leadership, calling her proposed overhaul “a corporate-style raid of a national institution”.
November 2024
Chris Ellison’s wife is inside out at MinRes
Tia Ellison appeared in a mystery Perth property deal, which saw MinRes take a $45 million stake.