Submission to Consultation Paper – Strengthening the Australian National University Act 1991
Fixing governance at the ANU is only possible with an accountable Council. This can be achieved by reversing Howard-era changes and ensuring the Council represents students, staff, and the public.
The membership structure of the Australian National University (ANU) Council is not fit for purpose. Since 2004, a supermajority of the Council has been effectively appointed by the Council itself. This has made the Council effectively self-perpetuating, without incentives or accountability mechanisms to ensure it acts in the best long-term interests of the university and the various parties with a stake in its success. Fixing this key flaw is the single most important reform to promote good governance at the ANU.