The ongoing governance and trust crisis at ANU has cost the university millions in reputational damages as leadership continues to grapple with making the institutional changes needed to move forward.
Interim vice-chancellor Rebekah Brown told the Senate education committee, by the end of 2025, the university's reputational damages amounted to $100 million.
"We are still modelling the impact, because the impact is still live," Professor Brown said.
The $100 million included an estimate on the effect Renew ANU and subsequent resignations had on the donor pipeline and the ability of the university to attract international students.
Increasing the number of students at the university, particularly international students, is a key part of the strategy to balance the budget.
Professor Brown was joined at the budget estimates by acting chancellor Andrew Metcalfe, because the interim chancellor Larry Marshall was overseas.
Acting provost Joan Leach, chief operating officer Michael Schwager and current council members were also in attendance at the request of the education committee.
"There are justifiably grave concerns about many aspects of the governance, leadership, decision-making and culture of the ANU in recent years," Mr Metcalfe said.
Mr Metcalfe acknowledged there had been years of serious damage to the community's confidence in the ANU's governance and leadership.
"Many staff and students have felt hurt, disillusioned and not valued."
Mr Metcalfe said it was important for the university to move forward with a council that understands the ANU and its national mission.
The council needs to be fully and properly informed and have a culture of questioning and debate, he said.
The national auditor's report found there had not historically been a culture of questioning on the ANU council.
Mr Metcalfe said the council disagreed with former chancellor Julie Bishop's assessment of regulator overreach, which was a reason for her resignation.
Instead, Mr Metcalfe said it was important for the university to work with the regulator, the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency, to recruit the next chancellor and ensure there is widespread community trust in the appointment process.
He also welcomed upcoming discussions with the government about reforms to university council appointments that would bring a wider variety of relevant skills to the governance of universities.
Regulations require two council members to have financial backgrounds.
During the opening statement, Mr Metcalfe backed the interim vice-chancellor Rebekah Brown.
Professor Brown has been criticised after a freedom of information request denied the existence of encrypted messages which were later leaked to the media.
This has been investigated by the university and described as an administrative error.
She was also accused of withholding legal advice from the council.
"The council strongly believes that Professor Brown has acted properly, and in the best interests of the university, at all times," Mr Metcalfe said.
"We believe that she has the qualities to lead the university through this current period, and we have full confidence in her," he said.
Also revealed in the estimates, the council had been sent an internal investigation into former vice-chancellor Genevieve Bell in relation to hiring decisions in the school of cybernetics.
Mr Metcalfe said he was reluctant to table the report because it related to an "employment situation".
"The council is now considering the material that's been provided to it," Mr Metcalfe said.
The regulation investigator is still working through an investigation into the university.
TEQSA chief executive Mary Russell told the senate the regulator's investigation had been delayed because additional investigations were needed.
Dr Russell said the regulator expected to look at Renew ANU and Genevieve Bell.
"Ongoing serious concerns" which needed investigation has meant the investigation has taken longer than anticipated.
"We are in the utmost good faith trying to conclude this," Dr Russell said.
Dr Russell said they will work with the university to ensure "more information" is published "rather than less" when asked if the final report would be made public.
Lynelle Briggs had provided her report to the regulator but this cannot be made public until the full regulator report is complete.
