Former foreign minister resigns as top uni chancellor

Former overseas curate Julie Bishop has resigned arsenic chancellor of 1 of the nation’s astir prestigious universities, effectual immediately.

Previously 1 of the Liberal government’s astir elder ministers, Ms Bishop’s tenure astatine Australian National University was marred by months of turmoil including occupation cuts, bullying allegations and ugly disputes betwixt staff and university management.

A contentious cost-cutting proposal, which would person made hundreds of staff forcibly redundant, was abandoned when Vice Chancellor Genevieve Bell discontinue her station successful precocious 2025.

At the time, Ms Bishop said she had the afloat assurance of the university assembly and intended to service retired the remainder of her term until the extremity of 2026.

It’s unclear why Ms Bishop chose to step down early, but the Australian Financial Review reported she believed the universities regulator, which had intervened successful the moving of the ANU council, had overreached.

The university indispensable present work openly with staff, students and the broader assemblage to rebuild confidence, ACT legislator and elder curate Katy Gallagher said.

“I enactment the resignation of ANU Chancellor Julie Bishop,” she said successful a statement.

“The challenges facing ANU did not originate overnight, and rebuilding trust and assurance crossed the university assemblage will take clip and cautious work.”

The hard work of students, academics and alumni had forced the university’s leaders to take work for governance and enactment failures, autarkic ACT legislator David Pocock said successful a statement.

“In stepping aside, the chancellor is acting successful the champion interests of the ANU,” helium said.

“When things spell so terribly wrong astatine the helm of such an important institution, particularly 1 governed by Commonwealth law, there indispensable beryllium accountability.”

Source: AAP