Concerning allegations against Julie Bishop spark calls for her to resign immediately from top university job

An emotional academic has levelled explosive allegations against former foreign minister Julie Bishop, accusing her of workplace bullying and intimidation.

On Tuesday, Dr Liz Allen, a former member of the Australian National University (ANU) Council, told a Senate committee investigating higher education governance that she resigned in April after losing confidence in the university’s leadership.

Dr Allen alleged senior figures had issued ‘misleading public statements’ and dismissed community concerns. 

She claimed that since 2024 she had endured ‘threats, intimidation, and bullying’ for pushing for greater transparency, an ordeal she says drove her ‘to near suicide’ and caused lasting trauma.

She alleged Ms Bishop had falsely accused her and an undergraduate student representative of leaking confidential council information, allegations Dr Allen ‘strongly denies.’

According to Dr Allen, during a February meeting Ms Bishop delivered a ‘near two-hour disciplinary-like lecture’ before later confronting her in a private room with another council member present.

‘The Chancellor further berated me, suggested commencing a legal investigation, and calling a journalist to confirm I wasn’t leaking,’ Dr Allen said. She told the hearing she felt ‘threatened’ and feared for her job.

Senator Mehreen Faruqi said during the committee hearing that she could see no way forward other than for Ms Bishop and ANU vice-chancellor Genevieve Bell to resign following Dr Allen’s testimony.

The academic also claimed she had received a legal letter from ANU after she was accused of leaking information. 

‘ANU media (also) delayed publication of a piece I worked on (and) I was excluded from coordinated media during the election, something I would usually participate in.’

Dr Allen said the situation also damaged her working relationships.

‘Colleagues are afraid to collaborate with me, fearing the leadership,’ she said. 

‘My online and work activities are monitored and I recently received numerous emails from the Vice-Chancellor’s head of public affairs and the senior adviser noting they were ‘watching my public comments’.’

She further alleged Ms Bishop laughed at her emotional response, blocked her from leaving the room, and left her feeling ‘violated and deeply humiliated.’

‘The trauma caused by the most senior people at the nation’s university continues to affect me and my family,’ she said. 

‘I haven’t leaked. I haven’t breached the ANU code of conduct. I’ve merely tried to hold leadership accountable.’

Dr Allen said the emotional toll was too much, leaving her to consider taking her own life.  

‘It affected me so deeply that on the drive home, I decided to kill myself.,’ she said. 

‘I pulled over to write final goodbyes to my children and partner. I emailed my supervisors because I knew I hadn’t done anything wrong.

‘A call from my husband stopped me taking my life.’

Dr Allen also said that she suffered a miscarriage just two weeks after the alleged incident with Bishop occurred. 

Later in the day, ANU Chief Operating Officer Jonathan Churchill appeared before the committee, and addressed Dr Allen’s allegations.

‘We take what has been said very seriously,’ Mr Churchill said. 

‘On a preliminary view, a number of the statements don’t appear to be correct,’ he said. 

‘We will examine all of the statements made and will respond with particularity, in writing, to those assertions.’

Mr Churchill noted that Dr Allen’s case was an ongoing internal matter.

‘In relation to Dr Allen, I draw the committee’s attention to the fact there is a current grievance procedure against the university… that has been initiated by Dr Allen,’ he said.

‘That makes it impossible for me to comment whilst the grievance procedure is on foot without compromising those current proceedings.’

Mr Churchill also told the committee that Vice-Chancellor Genevieve Bell was absent from the inquiry due to illness.

He added that Chancellor Julie Bishop was engaged on other duties, in her role as UN Secretary General and Special Representative on Myanmar. 

Another member of the Australian National University Council, Francis Markham, has also resigned, with his departure confirmed overnight.

Appearing before the Senate committee earlier on Tuesday, Dr Markham said his decision was driven by ‘concerns about governance practices within the council.’

He had been due to serve on the council until September 2026.

The claims against Bishop follow sharp criticism against her and the ANU Vice Chancellor Genevieve Bell, who have been slammed over their running of the university.

Bishop came under fire for holidaying in Dubai, at the five-star Atlantis Hotel, where rooms go for upwards of $1,000 a night, just weeks after ANU announced $250million in budget cuts

Lucy Chapman-Kelly, co-convener of the ‘No Cuts at ANU’ campaign, slammed Bishop. 

‘Julie Bishop and Genevieve Bell deserve to be sacked for putting profit over our education. ANU students and staff won’t stop fighting until we achieve a reversal of [the cuts],’ she told Daily Mail.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Ms Bishop and Ms Bell for comment.

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