ANU apologises to whistleblower after ‘indefensible treatment’

The Australian National University has made a substantial apology and financial settlement to an academic who made serious allegations of bullying, intimidation and misconduct against then-chancellor Julie Bishop.

A university statement, which describes Liz Allen as “a valued and integral member of the university”, says she “courageously spoke up about misconduct” by the university’s then-senior leadership and that its treatment of her was “indefensible”.

“Publications were made about Dr Allen that were false and unjustified,” the statement said. “These publications should not have occurred, and the university unreservedly apologises for the university’s part in these events, for the maladministration of several processes, and for its indefensible treatment of her.”

The apology goes back to an emotional appearance before a Senate inquiry into university governance on August 12 last year, when Allen named Bishop and two other senior leaders as having threatened, bullied and intimidated her.

Allen, a former elected member of the university’s governing body, told the inquiry that “during a lengthy, near two-hour, disciplinary-like lecture” at the February 14 council meeting, Bishop had “made significant allegations of improper and illegal activity”, including leaking information to the media, and making personal gain from those leaks.

“When I defended myself, the chancellor suggested that I defamed her,” Allen said.

Later that day, Allen told the inquiry, Bishop took her aside in a private room with another council member where the accusations continued. Allen told the inquiry she became “so distressed she couldn’t breathe and struggled walking”.

Allen told the committee she contemplated suicide on the way home and miscarried a “much-wanted baby” two weeks later.

“I haven’t leaked; I haven’t breached the ANU code of conduct. I’ve merely tried to hold leadership accountable,” Allen told the Senate committee.

In response to the ANU’s statement, Bishop said: “I refer to the report of the independent investigator Dr Vivienne Thom, who found that there was no disclosable conduct on my part under the Public Interest Disclosure Act in relation to the allegations.

“My second right of reply to the allegations is currently the subject of a suppression order by the Senate Education and Employment Committee.”

The publications referenced in the apology are numerous media articles and ANU public statements, including in The Guardian and The Daily Mail , in which Bishop claimed that Allen’s comments were “false and defamatory”.

Asked on ABC Radio Canberra in September whether she was a bully, Bishop replied: “I absolutely reject each and every allegation that was made against me. And it seems to come down to one council meeting. There were 16 people present in that room when these allegations apparently arose.”

In April, the ANU said Bishop had drafted the university’s official response to a Senate question on notice from David Pocock which stated: “The chancellor has exercised her right of reply to the Senate Committee, rejecting in full the false and defamatory allegations made against her in relation to her role as chancellor.”