Good afternoon

On 26 October 2025, the Australian National University (the University)
received your request for access to documents under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act).

The University has taken your request to be as follows:

‘About five days before the ANU Council meeting regarding the resignation
of Vice-Chancellor Genevieve Bell, the NTEU made a public post welcoming
the opportunity to work with the “Interim” leadership at ANU. I’m seeking
information about how the NTEU became aware of the interim arrangements
before Prof Bell’s resignation and before the Council meeting, and what
discussions or agreements (if any) took place between the Provost/IVC and
the NTEU.

I’m requesting copies of any of the following from 1 August 2025 to now:

1. Meeting records (including calendar invites, calendar holds,
attachments, or notes)

2. Correspondence (emails, Teams messages, letters, Signal, or other text
messages)

3. Briefing documents, memos, or meeting notes, minutes or agendas held by
the ANU in relation to meetings between ANU leadership and Prof Brown.

Between or involving:

a) Lachlan Clohesy and Rebekah Brown

b) Millan Lopes Pintos and Rebekah Brown

c) The Provost or Interim Office of the Vice-Chancellor with either
Lachlan Clohesy or Millan Lopes Pintos (as NTEU representatives)’

Your request has been assigned the case number 202500280.

Processing Timeframe

The statutory time frame for processing your request is 30 calendar days
from day after the date your request was received by the University. You
should therefore expect a decision from us by 25 November 2025.

This period of 30 days may be extended if we need to consult third
parties, impose a charge or for other reasons. We will advise you in
writing if this happens.

We will contact you using the email address you provided. Please advise if
you would prefer us to use an alternative means of contact. If you have
any questions regarding your request, please feel free to contact the FOI
Team via the functional email [1][ANU request email].

The FOI Team’s workload is currently at very high levels due the
unprecedented volume of FOI requests.

We are using our best endeavors to process all requests expeditiously
however there may be some slippage due to the current workload. We will
keep in touch with you and advise if there are any significant delays,
and, will, if necessary, seek extensions as permitted by the Act.

Yours sincerely

FOI Team

University Governance Office

The Australian National University

Email: [2][ANU request email]

Web: [3]https://www.anu.edu.au/freedom-of-inform...

TEQSA Provider ID: PRV12002 (Australian University) | CRICOS Provider
Code: 00120C | ABN: 52 234 063 906

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[ANU request email]
2. mailto:[ANU request email]
mailto:[ANU request email]
3. https://www.anu.edu.au/freedom-of-inform...
https://www.anu.edu.au/freedom-of-inform...

Dear Zara Evans,

I refer to your request for access to documents under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 as follows:

‘About five days before the ANU Council meeting regarding the resignation
of Vice-Chancellor Genevieve Bell, the NTEU made a public post welcoming
the opportunity to work with the “Interim” leadership at ANU. I’m seeking
information about how the NTEU became aware of the interim arrangements
before Prof Bell’s resignation and before the Council meeting, and what
discussions or agreements (if any) took place between the Provost/IVC and
the NTEU.

I’m requesting copies of any of the following from 1 August 2025 to now:

1. Meeting records (including calendar invites, calendar holds,
attachments, or notes)

2. Correspondence (emails, Teams messages, letters, Signal, or other text
messages)

3. Briefing documents, memos, or meeting notes, minutes or agendas held by
the ANU in relation to meetings between ANU leadership and Prof Brown.

Between or involving:

a) Lachlan Clohesy and Rebekah Brown

b) Millan Lopes Pintos and Rebekah Brown

c) The Provost or Interim Office of the Vice-Chancellor with either
Lachlan Clohesy or Millan Lopes Pintos (as NTEU representatives)’

As a result of searches conducted a number of documents have been
identified as relevant to your request.  On review of the documents, it
has been determined that some of the documents refer to the Business
affairs of an external organisation.  Accordingly, the University is
required to consult with the relevant organisation (under section 27 of
the FOI Act) before making a decision on the release of the documents.

The consultation mechanism under section 27 applies when we believe the
external organisation concerned might reasonably wish to contend that the
requested documents are exempt because their release would disclose
information about the business, commercial or financial affairs of that
organisation.

Accordingly, the period for processing your request has been extended by a
further 30 days, in order to allow our agency time to consult with that
external organisation concerned.

The processing period for your request will now end on 25 December 2025.

Yours sincerely

FOI Team

University Governance Office

The Australian National University

Email: [1][ANU request email]

Web: [2]https://www.anu.edu.au/freedom-of-inform...

TEQSA Provider ID: PRV12002 (Australian University) | CRICOS Provider
Code: 00120C | ABN: 52 234 063 906

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[ANU request email]
mailto:[ANU request email]
2. https://www.anu.edu.au/freedom-of-inform...
https://www.anu.edu.au/freedom-of-inform...

Good afternoon,

I refer to your request for access to documents under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (the Act) received by the University on 26 October
2025.

We note we write to you and advised a consultation delay on 21 December
2025. Following that extension the request would be due on 25 December
2025 (Christmas Day)

Your request is receiving attention and a decision will be provided to you
as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, we are currently experiencing delays regarding your request
and we will be unable to provide you with a response by the current
decision date.

Delays are being experienced due to the absences of key FOI staff and the
unprecedented number of FOI requests,  causing delays in the processing of
your FOI request. 

In addition, the University’s shutdown period is for later today until 5
January 2026. This means that both FOI staff and the persons being
consulted are unlikely to be available during this period.

Accordingly, the University is seeking an extension of time of 30 days in
accordance with section 15AA of the FOI Act.   

If you agree to the extension, the University would be required to provide
you with a decision notice by no later than COB 25 January 2026.

Your earliest response would be appreciated as we are required to notify
the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) of any
extension agreed.

Yours sincerely

ANU FOI Team