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ACT Greens education spokesperson Laura Nuttall has today welcomed the long overdue resignation of ANU Vice Chancellor Genevieve Bell and called for the university to bring its focus back to delivering world class education and caring for its students and staff.
"Genevieve Bell has today made the decision she should have made weeks ago," said Miss Nuttall.
"Cruel cuts left scores of workers unemployed or in professional limbo, and the quality of education provided to students declined. Ultimately, Ms Bell lost the confidence of the ANU community some time ago.
Last month Miss Nuttall joined with Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi to call on both Ms Bell and Chancellor Julie Bishop to resign.
"While this is a step in the right direction, this has never been about one individual. The ANU now needs not only fresh leadership but a fresh approach.
"For too long the ANU leadership has put money before education, hurting workers and students alike. They now have an opportunity to turn over a new leaf by scrapping the Renew ANU program and ending all proposed job cuts.
"There are still entire degrees and schools in the College of Arts and the Social Sciences on the chopping block, and this isn't good enough.
"The university must make clear that new leadership will also mean a new culture which genuinely cares for staff and students' education, careers and wellbeing.
This is not just a Genevieve Bell problem, a Julie Bishop problem, or even just an ANU problem. This is a corporatised university problem. The Federal Government must now commit to long term proper funding and oversight for all tertiary education.
"The breakdown in trust and failures we have seen through this era at the ANU must never be repeated."
Miss Nuttall is available for comment.
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