David Pocock (ACT, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That there be laid on the table by the Vice-Chancellor of the Australian National University (ANU), by no later than 9.30 am on 28 August 2025:

(a) all documents, emails/internal correspondence, internal memoranda, meeting minutes and other records of interaction from 1 April to 31 October 2024 relating to the creation, development, approval or implementation of new budgets allocated to ANU colleges (College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS), College of Asia and the Pacific (CAP), College of Business and Economics (CBE), College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS), College of Law (CoL) and College of Health and Medicine (CoHM), College of Science (CoS)) midway through 2024;

(b) all budget documents, financial statements, budget allocations, budget revisions, internal reports and associated documentation for each ANU college (CASS, CAP, CBE, CECS, CoL, CoHM and CoS), specifically relating to how each college addressed, managed or implemented decreases in recurrent budget allocations;

(c) all documents, memoranda or briefing notes, emails, meeting notes, internal correspondence and records of discussions from 1 April to 31 October 2024 regarding how the ANU colleges (CASS, CAP, CBE, CECS, CoL, CoHM and CoS) met new recurrent budget targets and any associated budget constraints or requirements;

(d) all documents, memoranda, emails, meeting notes, file notes, correspondence, financial records, transfer documentation and records of decisions from 1 April to 30 October 2024 concerning how funds may have been shifted, transferred, or reallocated from recurrent budgets to other ANU account types including Q accounts, W accounts, S accounts, E accounts or any other account types from all ANU colleges (CASS, CAP, CBE, CECS, CoL, CoHM and CoS);

(e) all documents, emails/internal correspondence, meeting notes, briefing notes, papers from Council, papers from senior management group, papers from relevant committees of Council and records of discussions from 1 April to 31 October 2024 regarding discussions about the impact on core and discretionary services of the colleges (CASS, CAP, CBE, CECS, CoL, CoHM and CoS) as a result of budget cuts or their ability to meet future core and discretionary services and obligations; and

(f) all documents, emails/internal correspondence, meeting notes, briefing notes, papers from Council, papers from senior management group, papers from relevant committees of Council and records of discussions from 1 April to 30 June 2025 regarding discussions and decisions about the impact of over-expenditure of 2024 budget on the 2025 budget of the colleges (CASS, CAP, CBE, CECS, CoL, CoHM and CoS).

Paul Scarr (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make short statement not exceeding one minute.

Leave granted.

The opposition notes the importance of transparency for government entities, including the ANU. However, the opposition also notes that a workplace dispute was, in our respectful view, inappropriately publicised in a 12 August Senate committee hearing. The opposition is concerned that the conduct of that dispute may be impacted by the passage of these motions. The opposition would not wish to deny natural justice to the complainant or anyone else. The ANU is also currently the subject of a self-assurance compliance process scheduled to appear before Senate estimates in October and part of the aforementioned committee inquiry into university governance. These would each be, in our respectful view, more appropriate forums through which to seek more information.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Slade Brockman (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to say the government will not be supporting these motions today—there are a number of them, from 76 onwards—for similar reasons that have been raised by the opposition. Also, when I look at the nature of the OPDs and the work that would be required in responding to them, I would prefer that ANU, at this point in time, was actually dealing with the issues that we have asked it to deal with in responding to Renew ANU. In addition, the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency have been considering the minister's referral and will be appointing an independent expert to investigate those matters very soon. The minister will be briefed by TEQSA on matters relating to the ANU later this week, I understand. I've met with every person who's asked to meet with me about the ANU. I'm aware of the issues that need to be resolved, and I want the ANU to get on and resolve them.

David Pocock (ACT, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a one-minute statement.

Leave not granted.

Slade Brockman (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that motion No. 76, moved by Senator David Pocock, be agreed to.

David Pocock (ACT, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That there be laid on the table by the Vice-Chancellor of the Australian National University (ANU), by no later than 9.30 am on 28 August 2025:

(a) the complete and unredacted results of the ANU staff survey conducted in March 2023, including all college, research school and portfolio-level breakdowns, demographic analysis and detailed response data;

(b) the complete and unredacted results of the ANU staff survey conducted in September 2024, including all college, research school and portfolio-level breakdowns, demographic analysis and detailed response data; and

(c) all supporting documentation, analysis, and reports prepared by the ANU in relation to both surveys, including any comparative analysis between the two survey periods.

Mehreen Faruqi (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Slade Brockman (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Mehreen Faruqi (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senators in this chamber and the world out there know quite well that the ANU is rife with scandals, with budgetary mismanagement, with staff being bullied, with secrets being kept from staff. All Senator David Pocock is asking for is budgets; it is a public institution. All Senator David Pocock is asking for is staff surveys; again, it's a public institution, and it is staff that are being intimidated by the chancellor and the vice-chancellor. Here we have Labor and the coalition—and I'm sure Senator Pocock would agree with me—running a protection racket for the executive of the ANU. It is absolutely shameful—absolutely shameful!

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Slade Brockman (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Honourable senators interjecting—

I will take the opportunity to remind senators that the one minute of leave is granted in order for parties and individuals to put their position on motions, not to have a political spray.

It is—Senator Shoebridge, order! It is well-known that it is designed to be able—

Senator Shoebridge! It is designed to enable people to put their positions on motions. I will now put the question. The question is that general business notice of motion No. 78 be agreed to.

David Pocock (ACT, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That there be laid on the table by the Chancellor of the Australian National University (ANU), by no later than 9.30 am on 28 August 2025, a copy of any email correspondence sent by the Chancellor to ANU Council members relating to a purported breach of Council confidentiality as referenced in an on campus bulletin on 8 July 2025.

Slade Brockman (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that general business notice of motion No. 79 be agreed to.

David Pocock (ACT, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That there be laid on the table by the Vice-Chancellor of the Australian National University (ANU), by no later than 9.30 am on 28 August 2025:

(a) all documents, including but not limited to correspondence, emails, briefing notes, minutes, reports, memoranda and records of meetings or discussions, related to or that discuss the ANU budget forecasts for the period 2024-27 prepared in 2023 by the then Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Provost including assumptions underlying the forecast, and projected revenue growth and expenditure; and

(b) all documents, including but not limited to correspondence, emails, briefing notes, minutes, reports, memoranda and records of meetings or discussions, related to the ANU budget forecasts for the period 2024-27 prepared in 2023 by the then CFO and Provost related to the classification or reclassification from CAPEX to OPEX and vice versa and any documents or advice relating to the reasons for any reclassifications, including but not limited to advice from the Australian Tax Office, the Australian National Audit Office and the ANU auditors.

Slade Brockman (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that general business notice of motion No. 80 be agreed to.