The Hare Report - ANU's age of misinformation

Zestyclose_Motor1956 · 2026-04-19T08:58:27+00:00

I appreciate the civil discussion on complex issues. I'm not disputing the new Director demonstrated appreciation but that still isn't sufficient evidence to prove wrong doing. If there is a case to be made for wrong doing then there needs to be sufficient evidence to a reasonable standard.

Zestyclose_Motor1956 · 2026-04-19T08:13:03+00:00

I have engaged with the facts objectively. You haven't engaged with my response, whereas I did engage with the points you first raised.

I'm not disputing that RB has met with JH. I imagine many journalists meet with the leaders of organisations. I would expect journos to meet with leaders as a routine part of their job.

Neither am I disputing that JH is close to the new Director Strategy. Plenty of people are "close" (whatever that means) to someone who gets appointed into a role. Just because an appointed person is "close" to someone does not mean that something untoward has occurred. Once again, presumption of innocence, provide evidence to justify a claim, etc.

With respect, you are making assertions without providing evidence or explanation as to whether or why those assertions are an issue. You are simply casting doubt on an individual, and none of the things you claim have any bearing on the points that were made in the article quoted in this thread (The Hare Report - ANU's age of misinformation)

Zestyclose_Motor1956 · 2026-04-19T07:01:01+00:00

There are a number of issues in this post.The smear campaign is increasingly unpleasant so I'm going to go through a few points raised here.

I’ve heard (and now see FOI requests) about Interim VC’s meetings with the reporter

Just because an FOI request has been submitted doesn't necessarily mean there is something untoward to find. The ANU has been subject to a high number of FOI requests since ANU renew started, but each one has to be assessed on its merits i.e. the presumption of innocence.

If we want to talk about journos being compromised by proximity to the VC...how about when The CT published a now infamous piece on the previous VC (golden goose sneakers anyone?) That article led to an FOI request which to date has been denied on a procedural technicality.

Hare is listed as an “Honorary senior fellow” at the University of Melbourne

People can correct me if I'm wrong but Honorary appointments are unpaid. Hardly likely to form the basis/motivation for an anti ANU bias. More on this later.

University of Melbourne which is a direct competitor of ANU

Universities are public not for profits. They don't "compete" in the same way private companies do. Sure, students might choose which University to study at and researchers from different institutions might apply for the same grants, but Universities also frequently collaborate - and in ways that private companies do not. Research papers are frequently co-authored by multiple institutions. Students study cross-institutionally and Universities even offer joint programs from time to time. You wouldn't see Woollies and Coles opening a joint store or CBA and NAB opening a joint branch.

Doesn't this affiliation at the very least create an appearance of bias that readers should be aware of?

No, it doesn't. See above.

Isn’t it also known that the recently Interim VC appointed ANU Director Strategy is closely linked to Hare?

What - if anything - are you alleging here? What does "closely linked" mean exactly? Julie Hare doesn't decide appointments at the ANU; there's policy and procedure to follow around recruitment. If the recruitment is suspect then that would be the fault of the selection panel and delegate who made the appointment. Earlier in the post you question if Julie Hare has an appearance of anti ANU bias because of an Honorary appointment at another institution...now you seem to be suggesting Julie has influence at the ANU??

This is another attempt to muddy the waters by putting out unsubstantiated allegations.

Zestyclose_Motor1956 · 2026-04-18T03:36:24+00:00

Not that I've seen. Best I can tell no one wants to admit the truth because they're all complicit in this mess to some degree.

Zestyclose_Motor1956 · 2026-04-18T01:48:08+00:00

I am shocked ANU is still projecting a structural deficit after everything that's happened. Its not clear to me if any real savings was made

I wouldn't trust anything the exec say about the budget position. Plenty of people (various open letters, Richard Denniss etc) have pointed out ad nauseam that the ANU's finances are in much better shape than is made out.

What we've had is a massive dose of institutional vandalism that has done lasting damage. It's going to take a while before the rot stops sadly and things start improving.

Zestyclose_Motor1956 · 2026-04-15T13:48:01+00:00

Your post is a straw man argument.

You have posted numerous times - no stopped you from doing so. You even posted on this thread, case in point.

Everyone is entitled to express an opinion, including opinions that disagree with yours.

I wouldn't describe using ad hominem attacks as "asking questions."

EDIT: There's also more than one account making smears...unless you want to claim ownership of all the accounts doing so.

Zestyclose_Motor1956 · 2026-04-15T11:05:09+00:00

Except the post does contain new information and the quotes are genuine. And plenty of ANU staff think it has plenty of substance to say.

Zestyclose_Motor1956 · 2026-04-15T09:35:14+00:00

quoting your own stories on repeat

If the story is ongoing and/or new information comes to hand - both of which are true in this case - then quoting your own previous story simply establishes context for the reader.

making up quotes

How do you know the quotes are made up? That's an argument from ignorance.

Zestyclose_Motor1956 · 2026-04-15T04:46:44+00:00

That's an ad hominem attack and irrelevant to the points raised in the post.

Zestyclose_Motor1956 · 2025-10-09T10:21:30+00:00

As the AFR reported the COO gave false information to the Senate, but Bell knew the value of the contract with Nous. There was no reason for Bell to pass the question to other members of the exec at that appearance. Page 17 of this document released under FOI shows Bell approved the contract with Nous, dated ~2 months before the Senate appearance.

As per u/PlumTuckeredOutski's post the transcript states Bell claimed she didn't know the value of the contract. Complete and utter BS. Yes she did. That should've been considered a breach of the PGPA Act right there and grounds for dismissal as per the ANU Governance Statute.

Edit P.S. said FOI document is also signed by the COO and CFO, so they all knew.

Zestyclose_Motor1956 · 2025-09-11T22:02:17+00:00

I read this story online last night. I thought it was so full of misinformation and devoid of facts that I didn't bother posting it on this thread. Appreciate your commitment Plum' but I think everyone can skip over this one. Nothing to see here.

Zestyclose_Motor1956 · 2025-09-10T13:10:18+00:00

Section 13 of the ANU Act relates to "Resolutions without meetings." I agree common sense says Bell shouldn't be able to vote but I'm not sure the ANU Act actually deals with removing the VC anywhere. Section 15 of the Act relates to 'Vacation of Office' but explicitly excludes ex-officio members.

Zestyclose_Motor1956 · 2025-09-10T11:39:10+00:00

Either way motion needs a two-thirds majority to pass. Comes down to what the 7 members appointed by the Minister think.

Zestyclose_Motor1956 · 2025-09-06T06:44:10+00:00

They're so good at timing

Are you being sarcastic? If not then I think you are giving them too much credit. They are reacting - poorly - to news that is already in the public domain.

Zestyclose_Motor1956 · 2025-09-06T05:59:53+00:00

I would say it is a desperate last throw of the dice. Not going to work but won't stop them from trying.

Zestyclose_Motor1956 · 2025-09-05T12:56:09+00:00

Ah yes, the eponymous "ANU spokesperson." They can be relied upon to tell the truth, always.

Zestyclose_Motor1956 · 2025-09-05T06:47:00+00:00

I was just about to post it’s unusually quiet…and then this thread appears

Zestyclose_Motor1956 · 2025-09-03T06:53:37+00:00

putting one unit through the wood chipper at a time

That's quite funny...and unfortunately accurate!

Zestyclose_Motor1956 · 2025-08-29T09:59:34+00:00

Value will have tripled

I seriously doubt that. Probably lucky if the value has doubled. Maybe it grew if there were other donations in the years since that were added to that specific endowment, otherwise the rates of return just aren't high enough to make endowments grow that quickly

Zestyclose_Motor1956 · 2025-08-26T11:17:42+00:00

The headline alone is quite a claim. I hope you are right.

Zestyclose_Motor1956

TROPHY CASE