Support for ANU interim vice-chancellor Rebekah Brown amid resignation allegations

A group of politicians, staff, students and unionists have affirmed their support for ANU interim vice-chancellor Rebekah Brown amid allegations she played a role in the resignation of immediate past vice-chancellor Genevieve Bell.

The group, which gathered at the chancelery on campus, included Federal Labor Member for Canberra Alicia Payne, ACT Senator David Pocock, former ANU vice-chancellor Ian Chubb, and ANU demographer Liz Allen.

Professor Brown's appointment was widely viewed as a crucial reset for the embattled institution as it fought to turn its reputation around following a controversial $250 million cost-cutting plan introduced in 2024.

Professor Bell had been under increasing scrutiny as vice-chancellor due to forced redundancies and her handling of related concerns from staff and students when she resigned in September last year.

National Tertiary Education Union ACT branch secretary Lachlan Clohesy explained why he and the union membership trusted Rebekah Brown to lead the ANU, pointing to her pledge to stop forced job redundancies.

"We judge people by actions, we judge people by results."

Dr Clohesy also said it was "not completely clear" from recent allegations that Professor Brown had any influence in the process that led to former vice-chancellor Genevive Bell's resignation.

"But … if Rebekah Brown did have a role in Genevieve Bell going, then my reaction would be that's a good thing," Dr Clohesy said.

"That's in the interest of the university."

Senator Pocock was adamant that criticism should focus on the ANU council, and described the current scrutiny of Professor Brown as "potential scapegoating of the interim vice-chancellor".

"That's where the focus absolutely has to be at the moment."

ANU researcher and demographer Liz Allen agreed it was the council that was the source of the ANU's current malaise.

"It's the council undermining this great place, this national institution," Dr Allen said.

"I call on the appointed members of council to resign. Step back and put the ANU above yourselves."

Push for wider university governance improvements

Some in the group also expressed a need to change broader university governance systems and processes.

Senator Pocock pointed to current work which he hoped would improve university governance across the country.

"I'm working on a private senators bill that would actually take into account all of the work that's been done by the ANU Governance Project, and say this is what good governance looks like," Senator Pocock said.

The ABC requested a response from the ANU, but it declined to comment.

Chancellor Julie Bishop was also contacted for a response.

Her second term as ANU chancellor is scheduled to finish on December 31, 2026.