Pocock accuses ANU leadership of misleading Senate estimates after paying consultant more than $1 million
Senator David Pocock has accused the ANU leadership of misleading a Senate estimates committee about the cost of external consultants. (ABC News: Penny Travers)
In short:
David Pocock is calling for an investigation, alleging ANU leadership misled a Senate estimates committee about the cost of an external consultant contract.
ANU said the statement to estimates was factual.
What's next?
The Senate committee will consider what action, if any, they will take.
Independent Senator David Pocock has accused the Australian National University (ANU) of misleading a Senate estimates committee over how much it paid to a consulting firm.
The ANU engaged Canberra-based Nous Consulting Group last year to aid in the institution's restructuring as it aims to save $250 million by the end of 2026.
During Senate estimates on November 7, ANU chief operating officer (COO) Jonathan Churchill told the committee the university had "paid circa $50,000 this year" to Nous.
However, in responding to a question on notice, ANU said the original contract, signed in September, was worth $837,000 for a 12-week period.
The written response said the contract had twice been extended, at an additional cost of $290,000.
Senator David Pocock said the ANU has questions to answer about their responses to the Senate estimates committee. ( ABC News: David Sciasci )
'A huge discrepancy'
Mr Pocock said he was "appalled" the leadership of the ANU had appeared to show such contempt for the Senate estimates process.
"To say a contract is $50,000 when we learn it's actually $800-and-something-thousand is a huge discrepancy,"he said.
"They must've known that when they said that to the committee."
Mr Pocock said he had written to Labor senator Tony Sheldon, chairman of parliament's Education and Employment Legislation Committee, requesting an inquiry into ANU and its apparent contempt for parliamentary process. He also wrote to the ANU Vice-Chancellor Genevieve Bell asking for an explanation.
"I'm concerned the ANU at Senate estimates hasn't been up-front — hasn't been honest — about their use of consultants with their change management at the ANU,"Mr Pocock said.
"They could've made a mistake. I would've expected them to at least have written to the committee and updated it."
Chairman of the committee Mr Sheldon said the response to the questions on notice was concerning.
"There appears to be a fundamental discrepancy between what ANU told the Senate in November and what they’re admitting now – and it’s highly concerning they’ve offered zero explanation for this significant difference," he said.
"The figure is nearly 17 times higher than previously stated."
In a statement, the ANU said COO Mr Churchill's statement to the Senate was factually accurate.
"The arrangements with Nous were based on the university's needs, were subject to regular review, and contained the ability for ANU to exit without committing the full amount of the contract if the university desired. Additional work was identified as required," a spokesperson said.
Leadership under fire
National Tertiary Education Union ACT division secretary Lachlan Clohesy said questions had to be asked why consultants were being hired to address specific skill deficiencies in the staff when there were so many ANU staff on significant salaries.
"It is obscene for the ANU to be spending more than a million dollars on consultants while sacking staff due to a financial crisis,"Dr Clohesy said.
"These sorts of revelations … are the reason ANU staff have no confidence in ANU leadership."
In March, more than 450 ANU staff signed an open letter calling for more transparency into the university's planned restructuring and financial situation.
It is up to the Senate committee to consider what action, if any, they will take.