This Month
Education minister refers ANU concerns to regulator
Jason Clare has intervened around issues with governance and leadership at ANU, writing to the vice chancellor and referring concerns to the regulator.
David Pocock blasts ANU leadership for ‘trashing’ institution
The independent senator believes urgent action is needed and has written to education minister Jason Clare about management of the national university.
Consultants are cutting more jobs than just ANU’s
The consulting group’s capture of Canberra has extended to the OAIC. How convenient for clients wanting to block FOI requests.
Storm tamer wants to put a dent in Australia’s cyclones
He’s a college dropout who has the ear of climate scientists and even the Australian government with his sci-fi-sounding plan to stop cyclones and hurricanes.
Australia’s top university on global ranking revealed
The University of NSW has leapfrogged Melbourne and Sydney to take top Australian university on a global ranking.
May
ANU’s ‘remarkable tolerance’ for bullying, sexism, nepotism: review
The university has promised to listen to staff and students after a review of its College of Health and Medicine outlined exploitative and sexist behaviour.
Whistleblower raises alarm over high distinctions being awarded in ANU course
More than 90pc of the grades in the university’s cybernetics course were at the highest possible level, which the whistleblower claimed was “highly unusual”.
Cash-strapped ANU splurged $80k on Davos party
ANU financial dire straits have been building for years with expenses outstripping revenue. Lavish trips to Davos did little to help keep costs down.
Pocock lashes ANU integrity over Senate missteps
David Pocock says the ANU appears to have misled Parliament on multiple occasions and that its repeated failures raise questions about integrity and governance.
April
ANU secret document raises questions over whether Senate was misled
A confidential consultant report details potential multimillion-dollar budget cuts at the university as part of its $250 million restructure.
‘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.
Nous billed ANU for $500k, not the ‘circa $50,000’ executive claimed
Australian National University has been engulfed in a growing furore over a major change management plan, having trouble getting its facts in order.
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.
$60m overstatement of ANU deficit raises staff alarm
Three months after senior figures at ANU questioned whether budget forecasts were being “catastrophised”, the university’s 2024 deficit has been downgraded.
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.
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.
Leaked consulting firm slide deck gives hints on ANU job cuts
A secret document from Nous Group, which has been hired by ANU to push through job cuts, was left behind in a staff lunchroom exposing restructure plans.