New Memo Sparks Accusations of ANU’s “Dishonesty” for Move On of Tent Encampment

By Rowey Worner Butcher

A recent release of documents by the ANU under the Freedom of Information Act (1982) (FOI) has sparked accusations of “dishonesty” from student activists regarding ANU management’s order to the Kambri Tent Encampment to vacate on the grounds of it posing a “serious safety concern”.

The order to vacate was given to the encampment on May 27, 2024, and was described as “immediate and non-negotiable”. 

The order, which was provided as a letter to various encampment members, which can be read here, states that the “University’s Council has power over the entire control and management of the University”. 

Under this power was included the authority to call for the “immediate removal of all tents and encampment structures” from Kambri, as well as “if necessary, to call in the Australian Federal Police (AFP) to ensure compliance”. 

The justification for this order was the encampment’s location, which the ANU stated was “affecting the good order on campus and in that zone”. The directive referred to a fire evacuation of the Kambri Cultural Centre and surrounding buildings, including Fenner Hall, which took place on May 21, 2024. 

However, in internal emails released under the FOI between Kambri operations staff and ANU management, it has been revealed that there was a disconnect between the opinions held by ANU management and the experience of Kambri Operations staff. 

It was stated in an email sent on the day of the Fenner Hall evacuation from Kambri Operations Manager, Jerry Francis, that during the evacuation, Assembly Area 1 (AA1) on Kambri Lawns, was “inaccessible” due to the encampment. He stated that this congestion created a “potential risk of injury” and led to “confusion and delays in the evacuation process”. 

Photo of the “congested” Fenner Hall Evacuation, provided by Jerry Francis, Kambri Operations Manager in an email on May 21, 2024.

However, in emails between Deputy Chief People Officer Kylie Grady and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Grady Venville on May 23, it was revealed that the Chief Warden of Fenner Hall, while reporting that there was “some confusion,” it was an otherwise “smooth evacuation.” This evacuation took place with evacuees gathering on Fellows Oval (AA2). 

Preceding the evacuation, complaints were lodged to the Kambri Operations team from within the ANU about what actions the Operations team had taken to “ensure safe evacuation routes to an alternate assembly point”. 

In their response on May 10, Natalie Solomko, Executive Officer to the Facilities and Services Director stated that though the encampment was located “partially within the evacuation area AA1”, Kambri had the secondary evacuation area (AA2) at Fellows Oval, which they stated was the “preferred evacuation area in case of a Kambri-wide evacuation”. 

They further stated that discussions had taken place about “removing AA1 as an evacuation area entirely.” 

However, in an email from Vice-Chancellor Bell to Facilities and Services on Friday May 24 the Vice-Chancellor stated that “we believed we could manage the risk” regarding the encampment’s location and how it might have impacted “various safety plans and evacuation protocols.”

“It is clear following the fire drills earlier this week that we have need to revise our approach as relying on a secondary evacuation site has not worked,” Bell continued. 

On the same day, Director of Facilities and Services, Jeremy Matthew, confirmed that he would be “executing his authority to have the encampment moved on to ensure the continued safety of our staff and students.” 

He confirmed that he had been in touch with the AFP, stating that, “given recent issues that have occurred at Sydney and Melbourne campuses in similar incidences we feel this support from AFP… is absolutely necessary.” 

Matthew stated that the initial preference for the move on was 8 AM Saturday May 25 2024, however, due to AFP unavailability until the following Monday, the move on order would be delayed until then. 

When questioned on why the move on order was able to be postponed for two days despite the “unacceptable risk” the encampment posed, an ANU spokesperson responded: “The reasons for ANU moving the encampment from an evacuation point in Kambri lawn are clearly outlined and on the public record. Everyone can read these reasons online.”

“The University’s decision and timeline to enact that decision are clearly articulated in the documents released under FOI.”

“These documents clearly show how a secondary evacuation site previously identified failed and posed an intolerable risk to safety. Any other claims are purely incorrect and disingenuous.” 

Finnian Colwell, a member of Students and Staff Against War ANU, stated “I think the FOI exposes the complete dishonesty of ANU management”. 

ANU recently cut off power to the encampment at their new site adjacent to University Avenue. 

In an article published by the ABC, an ANU spokesperson stated that this was because the encampment did not allow university staff to inspect the site for potential safety hazards. This was disputed by the encampment. 

Observer asked ANU whether they had any concerns that further FOI requests would disrupt this claim, to which a spokesperson replied that “the cutting of power to the current encampment has nothing to do with the moving of the encampment from the Kambri lawn.” 

Observer spoke to encampment spokesperson Al who stated that the encampment “did comply with the university’s requests.” They said that since the cut-off, more ANU staff had come around to “tag and test additional chords” but that they were yet to receive any further information. 

Colwell confirmed that there were plans “on filing a couple of FOIs about other dubious claims the ANU have made” in regard to the recent power cut off. 

“Our leverage lies in our ability to disrupt the everyday functioning of the university,” Colwell stated. 

Encampment spokesperson Al stated that the ANU recently dropped Israel as a listed exchange partner on their website, “but that program was dormant anyway because it’s a warzone.” 

The ANU have stated they are reviewing their Socially Responsible Investment Policy in consideration of the demands of the encampment. 

Colwell said regarding the encampment, “It will only be further mass disruption, in the form of protests, rallies, encampments, occupations, and strikes that have the ability to keep the ANU honest.” 

Graphics by Annisa Zatalini 

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