ANU Academic Alleges Bullying, Harassment by Chancellor Bishop

Liz Allen, a demographer and former Australian National University (ANU) council member, accused Chancellor Julie Bishop of hostile and arrogant behavior during a Senate inquiry into university governance. Allen testified that she faced bullying, intimidation, and threats after raising concerns about governance transparency, which led to severe personal consequences including a miscarriage and near suicide. She described a two-hour meeting in February where Bishop accused her of leaking confidential information, an allegation Allen denied, and said Bishop further berated her privately, suggesting legal investigations and media involvement. Allen also alleged a toxic and dysfunctional council environment under current leadership, including Vice-Chancellor Genevieve Bell, who has been criticized for job cuts amid a major university restructuring. ANU's Chief Operating Officer acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations but noted an ongoing grievance process made commenting difficult. The inquiry reflects broader scrutiny of university governance and management practices in Australia.