Former foreign minister resigns as top uni chancellor
Former foreign minister Julie Bishop has resigned as chancellor of one of the country’s most prestigious universities with immediate effect.
Previously one of the Liberal government’s most senior ministers, Bishop’s tenure at the Australian National University was marred by months of turmoil, including redundancies, allegations of bullying and ugly disputes between staff and university management.
A controversial cost-cutting proposal that would have forced hundreds of staff redundant has been scrapped as Vice-Chancellor Genevieve Bell leaves her post in late 2025.
At the time, Ms Bishop said she had the full confidence of the university council and planned to serve out the remainder of her term by the end of 2026.
It is unclear why Ms Bishop chose to resign early, but the Australian Financial Review reported that she believed the university regulator had overstepped by interfering with the operation of the ANU council.
ACT senator and senior minister Katy Gallagher said the university now needed to work openly with staff, students and the wider community to rebuild trust.
“I note the resignation of ANU Chancellor Julie Bishop,” he said in a statement.
“The challenges facing the ANU did not arise overnight and rebuilding trust and confidence within the university community will take time and careful work.”
Independent ACT senator David Pocock said in a statement that the hard work of students, academics and graduates was forcing university leaders to take responsibility for failures of governance and leadership.
“By stepping aside, the chancellor is acting in the ANU’s best interests,” he said.
“When things go so wrong in the management of such an important institution, especially one governed by Commonwealth law, there must be accountability.”
