Julie Bishop Faces No-Confidence Vote Amid ANU Budget and Staffing Controversy

Julie Bishop, the chancellor of the Australian National University (ANU) since 2020 and former Liberal foreign minister, has made her Instagram account private and largely withdrawn from public and university appearances amid intense pressure to resign. The university faced significant financial difficulties, including an overestimated deficit by more than $60 million, leading to a $250 million cost-cutting program that involved forced redundancies and sparked widespread criticism. More than 800 ANU staff supported a vote of no confidence against Bishop and former vice chancellor Genevieve Bell, who resigned amid the controversies to applause from academics. Senior academic Liz Allen accused Bishop of hostile and intimidating behavior during a Senate inquiry, claiming the experience drove her to a near-suicide attempt, allegations Bishop has denied. Despite calls from parliamentarians and staff for her resignation, Bishop has vowed to serve out her term ending in 2026. The situation highlights ongoing governance and workplace culture issues at ANU under Bishop's leadership, with significant scrutiny from both the university community and government officials.