The Australian National University has estimated that the reputational damage caused by a cascade of high-profile scandals and governance failures has cost the institution around $100 million, according to its interim vice-chancellor, Professor Rebekah Brown.
Appearing before a Senate estimates hearing, Brown told MPs that the financial impact was “very significant” and still being modelled, with the university’s donor pipeline and ability to attract international students both badly hit. “It is very significant, and we are still modelling the impact, the impact is still live. Our modelling from the end of last year … it’s in the order of $100m,” she said.
The crisis engulfing the ANU follows a series of damaging revelations. Several reports into poor workplace culture, allegations of bullying levelled against former chancellor Julie Bishop during a Senate inquiry, and the controversial management of a $250 million cost-cutting program known as “Renew ANU” have all taken a heavy toll. The cost-cutting program, which aimed to reduce salary bills by $100 million and operating outlays by $150 million, was approved by the ANU council without “clear evidence” it was necessary or urgent, according to a scathing review by the National Audit Office.
The program led to the resignation of former vice-chancellor Genevieve Bell, who stepped down after just 20 months — the shortest tenure of any VC in the university’s history — amid protests and an ultimatum from college deans. Bishop separately announced her resignation earlier this year. An independent review by Christine Nixon into gender and culture at the ANU College of Health and Medicine identified “significant and consistent failures”, including a “lack of proper accountability”, a “poor and disrespectful culture”, and prevalent gender bias, sexism and racial discrimination. Academic Liz Allen testified that she was “bullied into near suicide” and described Bishop as “hostile and arrogant”, while ANU Students’ Association president Will Burfoot characterised the former chancellor’s conduct as “demeaning” and “dismissive”. Bishop has denied the allegations, saying she treated staff with respect and civility.
The acting chancellor, Andrew Metcalfe, a former government department secretary, told Senate estimates that confidence in the ANU’s governance was “seriously damaged” and trust had been lost. “Staff and students have felt hurt, disillusioned and not valued; trust has been lost and the council has a duty to confront that directly,” he said.
Police officer sentenced over death of Indigenous teenager
In a landmark case, New South Wales police sergeant Benedict Bryant has been sentenced to a two-year intensive corrections order — a prison term served in the community — after being found guilty of dangerous driving occasioning death. The charge arose from the 2022 death of 16-year-old Jai Wright, a Bunghutti (Dunghutti) man, who was thrown from a stolen trail bike after colliding with an unmarked police car that Bryant had parked in front of him. The Crown argued Bryant created a roadblock without authorisation, leaving Jai with no viable way to avoid impact. CCTV footage showed the teenager swerving in front of the police vehicle as the bike travelled at an estimated 68km/h in a 40km/h zone. Jai sustained critical head injuries and died in hospital the next day.
As Bryant was sentenced — also receiving 500 hours of community service and a three-year driving ban — a wail rang out from the court gallery. The case is believed to be the first time a police officer in New South Wales has been held criminally responsible for the death of an Aboriginal person during a police operation. Jai’s family said the matter was not pursued by police or the Director of Public Prosecutions for an extended period. Bryant’s solicitor has announced plans to appeal, arguing the sentence “doesn’t pass the pub test”.
Allegra Spender defends vote against government tax legislation
Independent MP Allegra Spender has pushed back against accusations of an “Olympic-level backflip” after voting against the Albanese government’s tax legislation in the House of Representatives. Speaking on ABC’s Afternoon Briefing, the member for Wentworth said she supports narrowing the capital gains tax (CGT) discount but believes the government’s indexation model is flawed, particularly for innovative businesses. “I’ve always wanted to see tax reform, and I commend the government for putting tax reform on the table … but how you do it matters too,” she said. Spender argued the model “doesn’t work for really those high innovative businesses that we need to encourage and support”.
She indicated she would be open to supporting the second tranche of legislation if the government commits to using the raised revenue to permanently lower marginal tax rates for workers. “If you really want to help young people, you actually need to lower the tax burden and that means using all the money that you raise as tax cuts for people who are earning,” she said. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has defended the budget measures, saying consultation continues with small businesses, venture capital and startups. He dismissed suggestions that entrepreneurs would leave Australia over the CGT changes, replying flatly “no”. He also said the government would do nothing that impacts negatively on inheritances regarding family trust arrangements.
Tech companies fight government media laws
Tech giants including Meta, Google and TikTok are invoking Australia’s free trade agreement with the United States and the threat of Trump administration retaliation in an attempt to scuttle the federal government’s proposal to force them to pay news companies. The News Media Bargaining Incentive (NMBI) would require the platforms to make commercial deals with Australian media outlets or pay a dedicated 2.25% levy on local revenues. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, has described the levy as a “discriminatory tax” that is “poorly designed” and “grossly unfair”. The Trump administration has labelled the proposed measure “foreign extortion”, and the Computer & Communications Industry Association, representing major tech firms, has urged the US government to challenge the policy with potential trade remedies. The government expects the NMBI to raise $250 million annually for Australian journalism.
Widespread AI use but deep distrust
New research from Roy Morgan shows that 13.6 million Australians — 58% of those aged 14 and over — now use AI tools each month, with ChatGPT the most popular, used by 10.5 million people, followed by Google Gemini (5 million) and Microsoft Copilot (4 million). Australians aged 25-34 (74%) and 35-49 (72%) are the most frequent users, indicating a large portion of the workforce is adopting these tools. Yet trust remains remarkably low: a survey by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner found only 4% of Australians trust AI, placing it on par with data brokers and just above social media platforms. The gap between use and trust was highlighted this week when a university vice-chancellor admitted to using AI in writing an opinion piece without prior disclosure.
ASIC launches formal investigation into KPMG
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has commenced a formal investigation into KPMG following whistleblower claims that the consultancy firm improperly used confidential information from its client Lendlease to win audit work with other companies. ASIC chair Sarah Court told Senate estimates the regulator was “trying to get to the bottom of the evidence”. KPMG’s Australian chief, Andrew Yates, stepped down last week after accepting responsibility for the firm’s failure to properly respond to the whistleblower allegations, which were first revealed under parliamentary privilege by Senator Deborah O’Neill in March.
Teenager faces potential first child terrorism trial in Victoria
A teenager who was aged 17 when he allegedly attempted to hijack a Jetstar flight at Melbourne’s Avalon airport may become the first child in Victoria to face trial on terrorism charges. The teen, now 19 and who cannot be named for legal reasons, allegedly carried weapons including a shotgun, knives and a fake bomb onto the plane in March 2025 as 173 passengers and six crew members were boarding for a flight to Sydney. He allegedly told crew he had a bomb and demanded access to the cockpit before beginning to assemble the shotgun but was restrained. He is accused of preparing for and possessing items connected to planned terrorism. A magistrate agreed with prosecutors that exceptional circumstances warranted uplifting the case to a higher court, despite defence arguments that his mental health conditions and youth meant the children’s court sentencing options were adequate. The teen remains in custody and will return to a children’s court for a committal mention on June 19.
Measles alert in Sydney
NSW Health has issued a measles alert after a confirmed case from Queensland visited multiple locations across the Sydney CBD and Sydney Airport while unknowingly infectious. NSW Health’s director of communicable diseases, Dr Christine Selvey, urged anyone who visited those areas to monitor for symptoms, which can take up to 18 days to appear and include fever, sore eyes, runny nose, cough and a red, blotchy rash. Since 1 January, NSW has recorded 49 measles cases.
Peter Hollingworth farewelled at funeral
Former governor-general Peter Hollingworth, who resigned after less than two years in the role amid scrutiny of his handling of child sexual abuse complaints within the Anglican Church, was farewelled at a requiem eucharist at Christ Church in Melbourne’s South Yarra. Delivering a eulogy on behalf of the family, Deborah Hollingworth reflected on the “long shadow” overhanging her father’s final years. “He became the public face and lightning rod for the institutional failures to prevent and address child sexual abuse,” she said. “He bore that burden heavily, as did we … He knew that in the public imagination he had come to stand among the bad men, and that knowledge grieved him profoundly.” The service was attended by Governor-General Sam Mostyn, Victorian Governor Margaret Gardner, and former prime minister John Howard.
2SER radio secures future
Sydney Educational Radio (2SER), owned by UTS, has secured a path to continue operating after its funding partner Macquarie University withdrew support last year. The station’s board approved a model that will allow it to continue with a smaller staff and funding pool. Transitional director Tony Duke has been appointed to conduct an independent review. Professor James Bennett, dean of the faculty of design and society and a 2SER board member, said feedback from staff, volunteers and the community had been critical in the process.
Snow season outlook
While alpine resorts celebrated snow flurries arriving just before the opening of the ski season, the outlook for the rest of winter is less positive. With an El Niño likely to form in the coming weeks, odds are stacked in favour of drier and warmer conditions through winter and spring, threatening a slushy season.
Albanese warns of One Nation drift
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has warned that Australians may shift to populist alternatives such as One Nation if they feel left out of the economy, arguing that the major structural tax changes in the federal budget were needed to rebalance the scales. Appearing at a Sky News forum in Sydney, he said he was “alive to their rise” and that if “government stands still, the world will go past”. He said he is critical of the leaders of One Nation but never of voters, who he said were sending a message of frustration that the economy is not working for them.
Australia urged to lead on ocean climate policy
Australia is being urged to step up its climate diplomacy on ocean health to fill the void left by the United States, which cannot be counted on as a reliable partner for the next two and a half years under the Trump administration. Oceans expert Terry Garcia, a former senior bureaucrat with the top US climate and weather agency, told the Talbot Oration at the Australian Museum in Sydney that “if progress is to be made, others will have to shoulder the burden”. He said Australia and the Asia-Pacific region have “the credibility, institutions and scientific capacity this moment urgently requires” ahead of mid-year climate talks in Germany.
