Julie Bishop has resigned as chancellor of ANU
Julie Bishop has resigned as the chancellor of the Australian National University, finance minister Katy Gallagher confirmed this morning.
Gallagher said in a statement:
double quotation markI note the resignation of ANU Chancellor Julie Bishop.
The challenges facing ANU did not arise overnight, and rebuilding trust and confidence across the university community will take time and careful work.
I have consistently said the university leadership and Council need to work openly and constructively with staff, students and the broader community to rebuild confidence and agree on a path forward.
That remains the task ahead for the university.
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Anthony Albanese touts $3.8bn in budget funding towards Surburban Rail Loop
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, is addressing media in his high vis from Melbourne. It comes after it was revealed the federal government would spend another $3.8bn for the Suburban Rail Loop, Melbourne’s controversial and costly 90km public transport project.
He takes the time to plug this coming budget, telling reporters they will “see all of the money flow on Tuesday night”.
double quotation markJim Chalmers, tune in.
Asked if the Victorian government asked for more funding, he says they “negotiated, as we always do, constructively, in order to deliver what was necessary to make sure that this project is full steam ahead”.
double quotation markThis will flow. You will see that on Tuesday night.
What costs money is not building proper infrastructure. That’s what costs money, through urban congestion, through people not getting people not having homes to live in close to public transport.
We are committed to investment in infrastructure because that is how you grow an economy, that is one of the best things you can do to boost productivity … Whether it’s Paris, New York, London, they all have not rail networks that go all to one point at the equivalent of central station.
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Caitlin Cassidy
Julie Bishop’s resignation latest in tumultuous time at Australian National University
Julie Bishop’s resignation comes less than a year after the exit of the Australian National University’s vice chancellor, Prof Genevieve Bell, and continues a tumultuous three years for the institution marred by redundancies, proposed course closures and allegations of a toxic work culture.
When Bell tendered her resignation in September last year, Bishop vowed to stay on as chancellor despite pressure from the union, student groups, sectors of the academic community and independent senator David Pocock questioning her future.
Labor senator Tony Sheldon was among the former foreign minister’s critics, pointing to “sweeping restructures … rising dissatisfaction among students and staff” and a failure to “provide transparency around serious governance concerns” during her tenure.
The forced job cuts and restructure have since been walked back under the leadership of the interim vice-chancellor, provost Rebekah Brown. At least 399 redundancies have been taken since the restructure began in 2024.
At the time of Bell’s resignation, Bishop said there were “no grounds” for her to step aside and she had the full backing of council to continue her tenure until 2026. She said at a press conference last September:
double quotation markThe university’s financial situation … began a very long time ago. We’re not the only university that has found itself in this kind of difficulty.
ANU remains under scrutiny, with a review ongoing by the higher education regulator, TEQSA, into its governance, financial sustainability and institutional culture.
Updated at 22.00 EDT
Julie Bishop acting in ‘best interests’ of ANU, David Pocock says
The independent senator for the ACT David Pocock has praised staff and students at the Australian National University (ANU) for standing together in the “face of poor leadership and governance” after the revelation that the former foreign minister Julie Bishop has resigned as chancellor from the institution.
In a statement this morning, Pocock said ANU was founded 80 years ago “as a beacon of hope, of working together and striving for better as a country”.
double quotation markAfter an incredibly difficult few years, now is the time to recommit to that mission, that optimism and that vision for what the ANU can be. Staff and students at the ANU and our community have stood together in the face of poor leadership and governance in recent times.
Pocock said it had been “scary and difficult” for staff and students to do so, pointing to evidence given in a Senate inquiry last year, “at great personal cost”.
double quotation markWe’ve seen dozens of professors, emeriti and alumni put their name to letters over the years, and as recently as this week, demanding better governance of our national university … The bravery of all these people, backed by the support of our broader community, has forced ANU leaders to take responsibility for these governance and leadership failures. In stepping aside, the chancellor is acting in the best interests of the ANU …
A number of processes, including a review by the higher education regulator TEQSA, are yet to conclude and need to be allowed to run their course. The voluntary undertaking to conduct an independent process to appoint the next chancellor is very welcome and will hopefully help rebuild trust, confidence and better governance at our national university.
Bishop and ANU have been approached for comment.
Updated at 21.47 EDT
NSW police arrest 62nd person in long-running investigation into child abuse material
Officials with NSW police’s sex crimes squad arrested a 62nd person in a long-running investigation that saw the largest seizure of child abuse material in the state’s history.
Police said the arrest was made under strike force Glandore, established in 2023, to investigate the online distribution, supply and access of child abuse material. Detectives said the investigation began after police discovered an Australian network of more than 700 alleged offenders using a cloud-based storage platform to allegedly access and share the offending material.
62 of those alleged offenders were found to reside in NSW, all of whom have since been arrested and charged with a total of 400 offences.
The man arrested yesterday was taken into custody in Corrimal. He was refused bail and will appear before court today.
Adam Powderly, a detective acting supt with NSW police, said:
double quotation markEvery image shared, every file accessed, represents a real child who has been harmed. Today’s final arrest closes one of the biggest CEIU strike forces to date and has made a significant dent in the number of paedophiles operating in NSW, disrupting a key part of Australia’s online child abuse network.
ShareJulie Bishop has resigned as chancellor of ANU
Julie Bishop has resigned as the chancellor of the Australian National University, finance minister Katy Gallagher confirmed this morning.
Gallagher said in a statement:
double quotation markI note the resignation of ANU Chancellor Julie Bishop.
The challenges facing ANU did not arise overnight, and rebuilding trust and confidence across the university community will take time and careful work.
I have consistently said the university leadership and Council need to work openly and constructively with staff, students and the broader community to rebuild confidence and agree on a path forward.
That remains the task ahead for the university.
Share
Dan Jervis-Bardy
Barnaby Joyce says Farrer voters can send a message to Canberra in byelection
The One Nation MP, Barnaby Joyce, says voters in Farrer can be at the “forefront of the change in politics in Australia” by supporting the right-wing party in Saturday’s federal byelection.
Joyce appeared at a press conference in Albury with the One Nation leader, Pauline Hanson, and Farrer candidate, David Farley, on the eve of the highly anticipated byelection.
The contest – which was triggered by former Liberal leader Sussan Ley’s resignation from parliament – is expected to be a race between Farley and the independent Michelle Milthorpe.
Joyce said:
double quotation markYou have the opportunity to say to Canberra, to say to parliament, no, you’re not doing a good enough job. We’re not just going to accept what you’ve delivered.
Barnaby Joyce. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP
Joyce said One Nation was already “changing the direction of this nation”, claiming credit for the Coalition’s decision to dump a net zero emissions target and pursue a hardline immigration policy.
double quotation markAustralia has so much potential, so much potential. We could be a powerhouse for good in the world, but we have to first of all become the powerhouse.
Updated at 21.31 EDT
Josh Taylor
Employment effect of datacentres ‘relatively small’
The NSW inquiry into datacentres has heard evidence downplaying industry claims of the potential growth in employment in the datacentres sector with more centres being built across the country.
A Mandala 2024 report commissioned by the datacentre industry claimed by 2030 there will be 17,900 people employed in datacentre operations in Australia.
Dr Riki Scanlan, a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Sydney, told the NSW inquiry that this would represent less than 1% of people in NSW and datacentres fall “well below” employment targets for industrial areas in Western Sydney.
double quotation markThese are highly, capital-intensive and not labour-intensive, workforces and sectors … we also have to … take into account that these are datacentres that are substituting from the existing datacentres in Commonwealth bank basements.
And so if you’ve got three people employed to manage a Commonwealth Bank datacentre, who are now being laid off because Commonwealth Bank has got rid of it, and now it’s a quarter of a person for the Commonwealth Bank [in a] datacentre operation in a large hyperscale or co-located datacentre somewhere else, perhaps is actually a net drop in employment overall.
He said that employment effects of datacentres are “relatively small, if not negative”.
Academics giving evidence to the committee argued that planning should be handled more delicately, noting the potential cumulative environmental impact of clusters of datacentres emerging in areas such as Lane Cove.
Lane Cove council and the City of Sydney will give evidence this afternoon.
Updated at 21.02 EDT
Jordyn Beazley
More on Janai Safar, whose lawyers will make an application for her bail before a NSW court at some point today.
Commonwealth prosecutors have just appeared briefly again to tell judge Daniel Convington that they’ve heard from one of Safar’s lawyers that she won’t be able to appear until after midday.
ShareJordyn Beazley
Lawyers seeking ‘urgent psychologist report’ for arrested returnee from Syria Janai Safar
Lawyers acting on behalf of the Sydney women who returned to Australia last night after spending years in Syrian detention camps have told prosecutors they are seeking an “urgent psychologist report” before making an application for her release, a court has heard.
Janai Safar, 32, was one of four women who returned to Australia with children on Thursday who were allegedly linked to Islamic State fighters. Three of those women have been charged, including Safar who faces one country of entering, or remaining in, declared areas, and another charge being a member of a terrorist organisation. Each offence she faces carries a maximum of ten years in prison.
Safar’s application for bail is due to be heard before NSW bail court today. She is yet to appear, but prosecutors from the commonwealth department of public prosecution made a brief appearance a short time ago. One prosecutor told judge Daniel Convington they understand an application for her release will be made today.
The prosecutor said:
double quotation markI understand that there will be a release application today. However, I’m informed by email that the defense are seeking an urgent psychologist report.
Updated at 20.31 EDT
Douglas Smith
First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria elects co-chair to lead Australia’s first formal Treaty body
Australia’s first formal Treaty body, Gellung Warl, appointed its inaugural co-chairs in Bendigo this week, marking a landmark step for the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria.
Dja Dja Wurrung, Wamba Wamba, Yorta Yorta, Dhudhuroa, Waywurru, Barapa Barapa, Wergaia and Wiradjuri man Djaran Murray-Jackson, will serve alongside Meriki Onus from the Gunnai and Gunditjmara clan as co-chairs for Gellung Warl.
Established on 1 May, Gellung Warl is the formal Treaty body represented by the First Peoples’ Assembly – a democratically elected group of traditional owners empowered to make decisions for First Peoples across Victoria.
Onus said Gellung Warl would work to deliver better outcomes across a range of areas.
double quotation markWe have walked a decade-long journey and negotiated and signed Australia’s first Treaty, now we must make sure that Treaty delivers real change for us,” she said.
“Our first priority is working with our communities on how we can use Gellung Warl’s new powers and responsibilities to secure better outcomes across health, education and employment for our people.
Murray-Jackson said First Nations peoples were the “experts on our own lives”, and that they “know what does and doesn’t work for our communities”.
double quotation markTreaty is how we make the most of our local knowledge to get better outcomes for our people.
We’ve just had our third Treaty elections and we’re really proud of the results.
Our elections are non-compulsory, yet over 10,000 First Peoples enrolled for the elections, showing how deeply our people are committed to Treaty.
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Jack Snape
Golf Australia reveals plan to combat re-zoning of public courses
Golf Australia is preparing to defend the country’s public courses against re-zoning attempts as part of its five-year strategy released on Friday, even as participation growth skews towards non-traditional venues like simulators and driving ranges.
The sport reported annual growth in adult participation of 10% over the past five years, sustaining a boom that began during the Covid pandemic.
The greens and fairways at Moore Park in inner Sydney have been the highest-profile target for downsizing, with the NSW government confirming on Thursday the 18-hole course would be configured into a 12-hole layout, despite opposition from golfers. Venues on defence land are also earmarked for sale under the federal government’s defence sell-off.
Read more here:
Photograph: Matt King/Getty ImagesShareHantavirus update: risk to Australia ‘very low’, health department says
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Dfat) said yesterday that it is aware of four Australians aboard the MV Hondius, the ship at the centre of the hantavirus outbreak.
A spokesperson told the Guardian that it is not aware of any Australians affected by the reported outbreak, but said Dfat remains ready to provide consular assistance if needed.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health added that the risk to human health in Australia from the outbreak remained low. In a statement, the spokesperson added:
double quotation markThere are no reports of hantavirus infection in humans in Australia, and the risk to Australia remains very low. The World Health Organization has assessed the global risk from this outbreak as low.
Hantavirus is a serious infection but transmission between humans is rare and only observed where there is close and prolonged contact.
Updated at 20.52 EDT
Chalmers added that, in nominal terms, the savings levels are “much bigger than normal when it comes to budgets”.
double quotation markThis is a historically large gross savings figure. It is also exceedingly rare that a government will be landing down two budget updates in a row where there’s a net save.
Updated at 19.26 EDT
Chalmers promises ‘especially responsible budget’
Chalmers said the number reflects “64 billion reasons why this is an especially responsible budget”.
double quotation markThere are big pressures in our economy and in our budget, and despite all of these pressures we will be saving more than we spend in the budget that Katy and I hand down on Tuesday night.
That’s because we take this inflation challenge in our economy very seriously.
The budget will focus on fuel security, cost of living and housing, productivity, tax reform and a “very substantial” savings package.
Updated at 19.25 EDT
Budget to include $64bn in savings and ‘reprioritisations’
The finance minister, Katy Gallagher, and the treasurer, Jim Chalmers, are speaking in Canberra ahead of next week’s federal budget.
Gallagher said the budget is ambitious and “all about reform” and looking at savings “right across government”. She said:
double quotation markWe have spent months working across government to find responsible savings, to be able to repair the budget but also to reprioritise, to deal with some of the spending pressures that are coming at us.
She said there are pressures across the board, including in defence, within the NDIS, in health and beyond.
The budget will include savings of $64bn in “reprioritisations and savings”.
double quotation markIn every single budget we have found savings to return to budget, to reprioritise, to meet those increasing pressures across the government, and this gross savings figure is much bigger than those that have come before.
Updated at 20.20 EDT
Housing downturn looms as rate hikes bite, data suggests
Australia is on the cusp of a housing market downturn as interest rates and affordability woes sap buyer demand, new data suggests.
AAP reports Sydney and Melbourne are already in the early stages of decline while price growth across the mid-sized capitals is losing momentum, Cotality’s latest Housing Chart Pack found.
Combined capital city home values rose just 0.2% in April, with the property analytics firm’s research director, Tim Lawless, warning the national market could dip into negative territory within months. Lawless said:
double quotation markSydney and Melbourne are already five months into the early phases of decline, while price growth is slowing across the mid-sized capitals.
Listings are picking up as demand softens, interest rates are rising, while affordability and serviceability pressures are biting.
A significant increase in distressed sales or mortgage arrears wasn’t expected, Lawless told AAP.
The forecast comes after the Reserve Bank lifted the cash rate to 4.35%, the third hike so far in 2026 that have fully reversed cuts in 2025.
Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAPShare
Updated at 19.00 EDT