The boss of one of the nation’s most prestigious universities has rejected claims she bullied an academic to near-suicide, and has criticised a parliamentary inquiry for allowing the allegations to be heard publicly.
Australian National University chancellor Julie Bishop says she “categorically” denies suggestions she berated a university demographer, accused her of leaking confidential documents, blocked her from leaving a room and laughed when the academic became distressed.
ANU staffer Liz Allen raised the claims in emotional testimony at a parliamentary hearing in August.
Dr Allen told the committee she considered suicide after the incident with Ms Bishop, and suggested the ongoing stress caused by university officials may have caused her to have a miscarriage.
In a 25-page response lodged with the inquiry, Ms Bishop, who is now under pressure from some ANU staff to resign, says she can “address and refute” each of the allegations.
However, she said she would only do so in broad terms because the matter was subject to a university grievance procedure.
Ms Bishop has also rejected broader claims she is “hostile and arrogant” to staff, that she has “godlike powers, unchecked” and that there is a “culture of fear and intimidation” when she oversees university council meetings.
In her written evidence, she suggested the committee’s decision to hear Dr Allen’s evidence publicly may have constituted a “psychosocial hazard… giving rise to a risk of harm to the committee members and witnesses.”
“The witness was evidently deeply distressed and spoke specifically about suicidal ideation and a miscarriage,” Ms Bishop wrote in her submission.
“The way the hearing on 12 August 2025 was used to ventilate serious allegations against me and other senior ANU officers raises grave concerns.
“I cannot in good conscience publicly give testimony to the committee that may further compromise the workplace grievance process.”
In response, committee chair Marielle Smith has defended the inquiry’s conduct, arguing it met its obligations to protect witnesses and give the university a right of reply.
“The committee was not aware of the detail of Dr Allen’s testimony in advance,” Senator Smith said.
ANU executives have been facing increasing pressure from academics and students over a now-abandoned cost-cutting plan which included forced staff redundancies.
The contentious “Renew ANU” program led to the resignation of the university’s vice chancellor Genevieve Bell.
Interim vice chancellor Rebekah Brown has cancelled the planned job cuts but warns work is still needed to get the university onto a sustainable footing.
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