Julie Bishop Resigns as ANU Chancellor Immediately

Julie Bishop, former Australian foreign minister, resigned as chancellor of the Australian National University on Thursday night, effective immediately and seven months before her term was set to end in late 2026.

Bishop, who took the role in 2020, informed the university and the federal government of her decision. Her tenure was marked by ongoing controversies, including staff disputes, a failed cost-cutting initiative and regulatory scrutiny. A program called Renew ANU, aimed at addressing financial pressures through savings measures that included proposed redundancies for hundreds of staff, was abandoned after Vice-Chancellor Genevieve Bell, whom Bishop had appointed, stepped down in late 2025.

Staff and students passed a vote of no confidence in Bishop and Bell that year. One staff member accused Bishop of bullying that contributed to mental health distress approaching suicidal ideation. Bishop responded in a statement that she had always interacted with staff respectfully, courteously and civilly. Last month, the National Tertiary Education Union alleged the university overstated its budget shortfall by $125 million to support the redundancy plans and called for the...