Julie Bishop resigns as chancellor of ANU

Julie Bishop has resigned as chancellor of the Australian National University, seven months before her term was due to end.

The former foreign minister became chancellor of ANU in 2020 and was due to finish her term at the end of this year. However, on Thursday night she informed the university and the Albanese government that she would no longer continue in the role.

On Friday, she said that the ANU council “is no longer able to discharge its legal and ethical obligations” after the university regulator took the unprecedented step of intervening in the selection process for Bishop’s replacement.

“The higher education sector is at a crossroads of regulatory overreach in the governance of our institutions or autonomy and academic freedom,” she said.

“I fear the collateral from this regulatory overreach will be the next generation of students and staff.”

Bishop’s five years at the university have been plagued by scandal and controversy. Hours before her resignation, this masthead revealed a months-long stand-off over an email she sent was only resolved after the university was reminded that failure to adhere to freedom of information laws could result in a prison sentence. There is no suggestion that she was responsible for the failure of the university to produce the email.

Last week, the university regulator Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) took the unprecedented step of intervening in ANU’s hunt for Bishop’s replacement.

Pro-chancellor Larry Marshall will act as chancellor until a permanent appointment is made, an email from the ANU Council to staff on Friday said.

“Recent years have seen significant turmoil in the governance of the university. The council is committed to providing a new period of strong and positive governance and leadership, and to working in a highly respectful, collegiate and positive way to advance the interests of ANU in every way possible,” the council said.

In October, TEQSA also flagged concern with ANU about its council’s culture and the “adequacy and effectiveness of governance oversight”. Last week, it announced that a “voluntary undertaking” from ANU would see the next chancellor chosen by a majority-independent panel with an independent chair instead of by the university’s council as is usual practice.

Bishop appointed controversial academic Genevieve Bell as vice-chancellor, whose oversight of the controversial Renew ANU – a program designed to find savings for the struggling university – ultimately led to Bell’s early departure from the role.

Staff and students passed a vote of no confidence in Bishop last year; also in 2025, an ANU staff member told a Senate Committee she had been bullied “into near suicide”.

Bishop said in a statement at the time that she had never interacted with staff “in any way other than with respect, courtesy and civility”.

Last month, the National Tertiary Education Union claimed that the university overstated its fiscal problems to the tune of $125 million to justify redundancies and called for the council to be spilled.

On Friday, NTEU national president Dr Alison Barnes said Bishop’s resignation was “long overdue”.

“[It] closes one of the darkest chapters we’ve seen at any Australian university.”

Sources within the Albanese government said that Bishop’s resignation “did not come as a surprise”.

Education Minister Jason Clare said he “recognise[d] her long public service”.

Finance Minister Katy Gallagher said that it would take time to rebuild trust in ANU.

“I have consistently said the university leadership and council need to work openly and constructively with staff, students and the broader community to rebuild confidence and agree on a path forward,” Gallagher said.

“That remains the task ahead for the university.”

Independent senator David Pocock said that Bishop was acting “in the best interest of ANU” by stepping aside.

“After an incredibly difficult few years, now is the time to recommit to that mission, that optimism and that vision for what the ANU can be.

“When things go so terribly wrong ... there must be accountability.”

ANU has been contacted for comment.

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