Arabic version: تزايد الدعم لنائبة المستشار المؤقتة في جامعة أستراليا الوطنية ريبيكا براون

Staff, students, and politicians have rallied in support of Rebekah Brown, the interim vice-chancellor of the Australian National University (ANU), following allegations that she played a role in the resignation of her predecessor, Genevieve Bell. This gathering took place at the university’s chancelery and included prominent figures such as Federal Labor Member for Canberra Alicia Payne and ACT Senator David Pocock.

According to ABC News, the group expressed concerns that Professor Brown is being unfairly scapegoated for existing turmoil at the institution. Bell resigned in September 2025 after facing scrutiny over her management of a controversial $250 million cost-cutting plan, which included forced redundancies.

National Tertiary Education Union ACT branch secretary Lachlan Clohesy voiced his trust in Brown, highlighting her commitment to halt forced job redundancies. He stated, “We judge people by actions, we judge people by results,” emphasizing the need to focus on governance issues rather than placing blame on Brown.

Senator Pocock criticized the scrutiny directed at Brown, labeling it as potential scapegoating. He argued that the ANU council, rather than the interim vice-chancellor, should bear the brunt of criticism for the university’s current challenges. Dr. Liz Allen, an ANU researcher, echoed this sentiment, calling for the resignation of appointed council members to allow the institution to heal and move forward.

The discussion has also broadened to include calls for improvements in university governance. Senator Pocock is working on a private senators bill aimed at establishing better governance standards across Australian universities. The ANU has declined to comment on the situation, and Chancellor Julie Bishop’s term is set to conclude on December 31, 2026.