Latest news with #JulieBishop
ABC News
3 days ago
- Business
- ABC News
Former Australian National University chancellor slams 'gobsmacking' proposed university cuts
Former Australian National University chancellor, Gareth Evans, has criticised proposed cuts to the university, saying cost-saving plans have "ignored or gravely under-valued the significance of ANU's very distinctive national mission", while describing plans to abolish the National Dictionary Centre as "gobsmacking". In a letter addressed to current Chancellor Julie Bishop, Vice-Chancellor Genevieve Bell, and Federal Education Minister Jason Clare, Mr Evans expressed concerns with the university's recently released College of the Arts and Social Sciences organisational change proposal. Mr Evans said the changes had ignored the maintenance of the National Institutes Grant, which the ANU receives from the federal government for research "supporting the development of Australia's national unity and identity". He said that during his time as ANU chancellor from 2010 to 2019 he could not have been more conscious of how important the grant had been to the ANU's viability. The ANU faces a $250 million budget shortfall and has announced plans to cut around 100 jobs in recent months. Mr Evans said he found it "gobsmacking" the ANU was looking to abolish the National Dictionary Centre (ANDC) and downsize the National Centre for Biography (NCB). The NCB maintains the Australian Dictionary of Biography (ADB), a huge database of Australian stories and the evolution of Australian English, started in 1957. Mr Evans said to drastically diminish the role of the ADB "makes no sense at all". Mr Evans condemned the abolition of freestanding centres such as the Humanities Research Centre (HRC) and the Centre for European Studies (ANUCES). He said the HRC had been "hugely respected both nationally and internationally for the last 50 years", and the ANUCES was "making a significant contribution to the government's trade and security policymaking with the EU". The former chancellor also raised concerns with a move to remove the Crawford School of Public Policy from the College of Asia and the Pacific. An ANU spokesperson said the university "welcomes a diversity of views and encourage constructive feedback including ideas to help meet the University's financial sustainability".
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Julie Bishop celebrates her 69th birthday in style as she lives it up on lavish Dubai getaway
Former Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop rang in her 69th birthday in style on Thursday, soaking up the sun and glamour of Dubai. The ever-stylish political trailblazer shared a series of joyful snaps to social media, showing her living her best life at luxury hotspot Atlantis The Royal. One photo captured the fashionable former MP raising a toast at an upscale restaurant, while another showed a lavish birthday cake being presented to her at an upmarket venue. A third image revealed Julie beaming as she skipped playfully around a beachside recliner, clearly enjoying her milestone celebration. 'Dubai at its finest @atlantistheroyal. Thank you @deanwalshtravels,' she captioned the photo carousel, which garnered many likes and well wishes from fans and friends. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Ms Bishop, who has long been dubbed the 'Minister for Fashion,' was glowing throughout the celebration. In March, Ms Bishop proved she is every bit the 'Minister for Fashion' on the digital cover for the Australian Women's Weekly. The fashionista stepped into a chic designer piece for her glamorous photo shoot in Sydney 's Centennial Park. Dressed in a stylish Carla Zampatti pants suit with a bow collar, the former Deputy Liberal leader cut her best supermodel look for the high-profile magazine. Ms Bishop, who is an ambassador for retail giant David Jones, styled her blonde hair in a chic short cut for the cover and accessorised with a set of gold earrings. The AWW praised Ms Bishop's fashion chops in the accompanying caption, before providing a sneak peek at their interview inside the latest issue. 'Six years post-politics Julie Bishop wears the title of Minister of Fashion "as a badge of pride",' shared the magazine. 'From her youth, Julie has been fascinated with fashion; one of her earliest memories is watching her mother stitch a ballgown. It looked to be an exciting getaway for the former Minister for Foreign Affairs 'Throughout her political career, she was a continuous advocate for the Australian fashion world and believed her fashion diplomacy "gave a sophisticated edge to Australia's image overseas". 'Today, Julie is still a media fascination - blending power, diplomacy, and fashion effortlessly.' The publication went on to reveal that Ms Bishop sat down for a chat 'about life after politics, privacy, paparazzi and why fashion diplomacy is still a top priority.' It comes after Ms Bishop was spotted in Centennial Park in Sydney in January modelling outfits from Australian fashion brands. She appeared in her element on the day and has every reason to smile. Ms Bishop is currently dating Stephen Gray, who she 'soft-launched' on her social media account in July 2023.
Arab News
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Why UN's Rohingya conference must deliver
In September, the UN will convene a high-level conference to address what is arguably one of the world's most protracted and neglected humanitarian catastrophes: the Rohingya crisis. Eight years after more than 740,000 Rohingya fled Myanmar's brutal military 'clearance operations,' the refugee camps in Bangladesh remain overcrowded, under-resourced and increasingly vulnerable to violence, disease and despair. This conference is not just another diplomatic event — it must be a turning point that leads to real action, justice and a long-term solution. The roots of this conference lie in a sustained diplomatic effort, particularly by Bangladesh's interim government under Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mohammed Yunus. The failure of earlier efforts, such as the 2018 tripartite agreement between the UN, Myanmar and Bangladesh, highlighted the need for a new approach. The refugees themselves refused to return to a country that denied them citizenship, stripped them of their rights and offered no security guarantees. The UN, recognizing the urgency, passed a resolution in late 2024 calling for a high-level summit to create a 'comprehensive, innovative, concrete and time-bound plan' for voluntary, dignified repatriation. With the support of UN officials, including special envoy Julie Bishop, the September conference is intended to be that long-overdue platform. The current situation is untenable. Camps in Cox's Bazar and Bhasan Char now host more than 1.5 million Rohingya. Humanitarian aid has sharply declined, with the World Food Program recently warning of severe malnutrition after food rations were cut due to lack of funding. Security has also deteriorated, with the rise of armed groups such as the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army and mounting intercommunal tensions. Education and mental health services are collapsing. A generation of Rohingya children is growing up without formal schooling, legal status or hope for the future. This conference is expected to be different. For the first time, there are strong indications that Rohingya voices will be front and center in the discussions. That is long overdue. Past international efforts have too often spoken about the Rohingya, rather than with them. Inclusion is essential. Any roadmap designed without their participation will fail again. This time, the UN appears committed to ensuring that Rohingya leaders and civil society groups play a meaningful role in shaping outcomes. We can also expect a sharper focus on enforceable commitments rather than vague diplomatic language. There is growing recognition that abstract promises and goodwill gestures are no longer acceptable. The conference is expected to deliver measurable benchmarks for citizenship reform in Myanmar, timelines for monitored repatriation and mechanisms to ensure international oversight and accountability. Justice will be another central theme. The Myanmar military's atrocities against the Rohingya have been well documented and described as genocide by multiple independent bodies. Without a clear pathway to legal accountability — through the International Criminal Court, universal jurisdiction cases or a special tribunal — there can be no sustainable peace. There will be serious discussion about the future of humanitarian aid. The existing model, focused solely on emergency relief, is no longer viable. The UN and donors must transition toward a development-oriented framework that builds resilience, offers vocational training and integrates mental health services. Long-term funding should be pooled into a dedicated UN trust fund to stabilize the camps and support host communities in Bangladesh, which have borne an extraordinary burden for nearly a decade. For the first time, there are strong indications that Rohingya voices will be front and center in the discussions Dr. Azeem Ibrahim For Bangladesh, this conference is both an opportunity and a strategic challenge. The government should use the platform to secure binding international commitments — both financial and political. But it must also take difficult steps domestically to maximize the conference's impact. It should begin by improving the rule of law in the camps. The rise in violence, gang activity and extortion has made many areas unsafe. The security response must be firm but lawful, with accountability mechanisms to prevent abuses. Community-based policing and legal aid centers should be established. At the same time, Dhaka should allow greater Rohingya participation in camp administration and policymaking, including women and youth leaders. Bangladesh must work closely with the UN to reframe the Rohingya presence not simply as a burden, but as a challenge that can be addressed through smart diplomacy and targeted investment. Informal economic integration, such as allowing Rohingya to engage in controlled, supervised livelihoods, could ease dependency on aid and reduce tensions with host communities. The government should also push for the expansion of third-country resettlement programs, especially for vulnerable groups such as women, orphans and the elderly. The US, Canada, the EU and Australia must step up their responsibilities in this regard. The key, ultimately, lies in aligning repatriation plans with genuine reform in Myanmar. The Arakan Army's growing control of Rakhine State and its recent signals of willingness to engage on the Rohingya issue open a new window. The UN must support confidence-building measures, including peacekeeping deployments and regional monitoring missions. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, India and China must be part of this effort. And pressure should be applied on Myanmar to lift discriminatory laws and restore full citizenship rights to the Rohingya. The upcoming UN conference must deliver more than words. It must be the start of a new era of policy and action, built on justice, accountability and the full inclusion of the Rohingya. If handled correctly, it could serve as a model for how the international community addresses long-term displacement crises. But if it fails, the consequences will be severe. Another generation of Rohingya will be condemned to statelessness, exclusion and despair. The stakes could not be higher. • Dr. Azeem Ibrahim is the director of special initiatives at the Newlines Institute for Strategy and Policy in Washington, DC. X: @AzeemIbrahim
Daily Mail
04-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Julie Bishop's huge expense bill racked up while for one of Australia's top universities exposed
Julie Bishop has come under fire for bleeding a cash-strapped university of almost $800,000 in expenses over a single year in her role as chancellor. Last year, the former deputy Liberal leader charged the Australian National University (ANU) $150,000 in rent for her luxury chancellery office on Perth 's Swan River. This is on top of the $800,000 ANU spent renovating the office in the 40-storey glass building after Bishop was appointed as chancellor in 2020. Added to the 2024 bill was a further $150,000 in travel, $109,000 in lease liability, $41,500 in office outgoings, $22,000 in parking, and $4,350 in cleaning. There was also a $3,793 bill for electricity, $454 for plant hire, $254 for bins and a $1.38 charge for a pair of stainless steel tongs. The eye-watering sums were laid bare in documents lodged with ASIC last year, obtained by the Australian Financial Review. It comes as the embattled university continues to roll-out its controversial cost-cutting plan, including staff layoffs and a broad-sweeping restructure. The revelations have added to concerns that Bishop has failed to adequately separate university commitments from those of her private consulting firm, Julie Bishop & Partners. ANU spent a total of $790,000 on Bishop's expenses last year, as the cash-strapped university struggled under consecutive years of operating deficits One document listed her chancellery office in Perth as the address for her consulting firm, which is registered to an address on Flinders Street in Adelaide's CBD. Meanwhile, a second ASIC document, dated February 2024, listed the ANU office as Bishop's 'residential address'. The oversights have revived concerns over the complex structure governing the former politician's approach to university and non-university affairs. 'This stinks,' National Tertiary Education Union ACT division secretary Dr Lachlan Clohesy told Daily Mail Australia. 'Staff have long suspected that the ANU Perth office is being used for private consultancy work, and it has now become apparent that Julie Bishop listed the ANU Perth office address on documents related to Julie Bishop and Partners.' Dr Clohesy said the 'blurry line' between her university and consulting work and 'extravagant expenses' spoke to a 'culture of entitlement'. 'Our position has been clear. The chancellor should be sacked,' he said. A member of Bishop's staff told the Financial Review ASIC had been notified of the 'error', adding an 'alternative physical address was provided'. 'All entities were notified of the error and rectification.' An ANU spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia it was 'satisfied' with the governance and controls regarding Bishop's use of the ANU Perth office. 'The expenditure for the ANU Perth office and the travel budget has been in line with other ANU capital city offices and previous Chancellors,' the spokesperson said. Asked whether ANU intended to encourage Bishop to reduce her expenses, the spokesperson said it had 'significantly reduced the allocated budget'. More than 800 ANU employees passed a vote of no confidence against Bishop and ANU vice chancellor Genevieve Bell's leadership in February. The vote, arranged by the National Tertiary Education Union, passed with a 95 per cent vote against the two leaders. Jonathan Churchill, ANU's chief operating officer told staff in an email the vote was not representative of the university's nearly 5,000 employee headcount, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. However, Dr Clohesy insisted ANU staff have no confidence in Julie Bishop as chancellor of the uni. The embattled university has announced several rounds of job cuts since unveiling its controversial cost-cutting and restructure plans in October last year. A statement on ANU's website justified the cuts on the basis the university had recorded repeated operating deficits worth a cumulative $600m since 2020. Bishop has previously rejected suggestions of financial mismanagement despite repeated budget blowouts and last year appeared to blame staff for the woes. Asked by the Canberra Times whether it was fair to ask staff to forego an planned pay increase, she answered: 'It depends to whom you refer, because many members of staff have been part of the inefficiencies that the university is now seeking to address.' Bishop forewent her $75,000 honorarium in 2020 to account for the financial impact of the COVID-19 crisis.
Sydney Morning Herald
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Julie Bishop makes rare diplomatic foray into Russia
London: Julie Bishop has made a rare trip to the Kremlin, meeting senior Russian officials during a visit that underscores Moscow's growing influence in Myanmar and its central role in shielding the country's military regime from global pressure. The former Australian foreign minister, who is now the United Nations special envoy for Myanmar, held talks with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin. She posted photos to her Instagram last week from inside Russia's Foreign Ministry and Red Square – a striking image for a Western diplomat given Russia's isolation over its ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Bishop, who rarely speaks publicly about her role, declined to comment when approached by this masthead, only confirming the visit as part of her role in engaging key United Nations Security Council members on Myanmar's political and humanitarian crisis. Russia is one of the junta's most powerful allies, supplying arms, vetoing UN resolutions, and expanding oil and gas co-operation. The Kremlin recently announced new strategic agreements with Myanmar's military, even as the regime continues its crackdown on political opponents, ethnic minorities, and pro-democracy forces. In an address to the UN General Assembly earlier this month, Bishop warned that since the February 2021 coup, 'Myanmar has been in polycrisis, with more than 14,000 civilian fatalities and 80,000 total fatalities recorded, more than 3.5 million internally displaced, and over 100,000 houses torched.' Loading She condemned the junta for continuing to 'fly airstrikes as part of its campaign against anti-junta forces and Myanmar's people, despite a ceasefire announcement', and said the plight of the Rohingya Muslim minority had 'only worsened' since the military seized power. 'Those who have been forcibly deported from Myanmar face an uncertain future, with life-saving support to refugees significantly reduced, while Rohingya inside Myanmar face continuing persecution, displacement, and denial of human rights amidst an intensifying conflict,' she said. She also warned that elections planned by the junta for December were aimed at whitewashing military rule.
