August 25, 2026 — 5:00amThe Australian National University has made a substantial apology and financial settlement to an academic who made serious allegations of bullying, intimidation and misconduct against then-chancellor Julie Bishop.A university statement, which describes Liz Allen as “a valued and integral member of the university”, says she “courageously spoke up about misconduct” by the university’s then-senior leadership and that its treatment of her was “indefensible”.Liz Allen gave evidence about how she was treated as a member of ANU’s governing council.Alex Ellinghausen“Publications were made about Dr Allen that were false and unjustified,” the statement said. “These publications should not have occurred, and the university unreservedly apologises for the university’s part in these events, for the maladministration of several processes, and for its indefensible treatment of her.”The terms of the financial settlement have not been disclosed.The apology goes back to an emotional appearance before a Senate inquiry into university governance on August 12 last year, when Allen named Bishop and two other senior leaders as having threatened, bullied and intimidated her.Allen, a former elected member of the university’s governing body, told the inquiry that “during a lengthy, near two-hour, disciplinary-like lecture” at the February 14 council meeting, Bishop had “made significant allegations of improper and illegal activity”, including leaking information to the media, and making personal gain from those leaks.Then-chancellor Julie Bishop, who has rejected the accusations, at ANU in Canberra after a town hall meeting with staff in September.Alex Ellinghausen“When I defended myself, the chancellor suggested that I defamed her,” Allen said.Later that day, Allen told the inquiry, Bishop took her aside in a private room with another council member where the accusations continued. Allen told the inquiry she became “so distressed she couldn’t breathe and struggled walking”.“I felt violated and deeply humiliated,” she said.Allen told the committee she contemplated suicide on the way home and miscarried a “much-wanted baby” two weeks later.“I haven’t leaked; I haven’t breached the ANU code of conduct. I’ve merely tried to hold leadership accountable,” Allen told the Senate committee.In response to the ANU’s statement, Bishop said: “I refer to the report of the independent investigator Dr Vivienne Thom, who found that there was no disclosable conduct on my part under the Public Interest Disclosure Act in relation to the allegations.“My second right of reply to the allegations is currently the subject of a suppression order by the Senate Education and Employment Committee.”The publications referenced in the apology are numerous media articles and ANU public statements, including in The Guardian and The Daily Mail, in which Bishop claimed that Allen’s comments were “false and defamatory”.“This apology is not coming from the people who did the wrong thing.”Robyn Carroll, University of Western AustraliaAsked on ABC Radio Canberra in September whether she was a bully, Bishop replied: “I absolutely reject each and every allegation that was made against me. And it seems to come down to one council meeting. There were 16 people present in that room when these allegations apparently arose.”In April, the ANU said Bishop had drafted the university’s official response to a Senate question on notice from David Pocock which stated: “The chancellor has exercised her right of reply to the Senate Committee, rejecting in full the false and defamatory allegations made against her in relation to her role as chancellor.”Bishop resigned as ANU chancellor on May 8.In a statement, Allen said she was looking forward to “helping the university rebuild trust” and help ensure “what happened to me is not the experience of future whistleblowers”.Pocock said in a statement he was pleased to see the settlement and public apology recognising the “clear governance failures by former senior leadership” at the ANU.ANU interim vice-chancellor Professor Rebekah Brown said: “Dr Liz Allen has been a valued member of our ANU community for almost two decades. Liz is a highly respected demographer and social researcher. I am delighted Liz remains an engaged colleague and contributor as the university embarks on its next chapter.”If you or anyone you know needs help, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 (and see lifeline.org.au) or Beyond Blue on1300 22 4636 (and see beyondblue.org.au).Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.From our partners