A deputy vice-chancellor of the Australian National University has conceded it took "quite a while" to determine whether security guards had been called to the School of Music to remove then-head Peter Tregear.
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The presence of security guards at the school forms part of Professor Tregear's appeal for compensation from Commonwealth insurer Comcare, heard in front of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal this week.
Professor Tregear alleges the university caused him mental injury and is fighting for incapacity benefits. Two events have been consistently highlighted by Professor Tregear's barrister throughout the hearing, including the security guard incident and the mistaken advertisement of a professorial role within his school. Both incidents occurred while Professor Tregear was on leave.
ANU deputy vice-chancellor (academic) Marnie Hughes-Warrington, who was Professor Tregear's supervisor, told the hearing her investigations found the security guards visited on April 24, 2015, to help a staff member gain entry to the building after a new security system was installed.
She rejected Professor Tregear's allegations they had been called to escort him off-campus. She also dismissed the suggestion the security system had been changed to keep him out, telling the hearing it was to better protect music instruments and stands from theft and damage.
Despite weekly meetings with Professor Hughes-Warrington, Professor Tregear was not told why the security guards visited the School of Music until May 28. The new security system was later uninstalled.
The hearing was told acting School of Music head Samantha Bennett had emailed Professor Hughes-Warrington about 12 times with concerns regarding Professor Tregear's presence on campus in the six months leading to the security guard incident.
"It took a while to get to the bottom of [why security guards were called]," Professor Hughes-Warrington said.
"I was satisfied with the evidence provided to me it was not to do with Peter but to do with a staff member trying to get into the building."
She could not recall who that staff member was, though offered to find out by searching ANU security logs.
AAT deputy president Greg Melick pointed to an email sent from Professor Tregear to Professor Hughes-Warrington where he recalled Professor Hughes-Warrington as backing his version of events.
"Did it not occur to you when you got this email that perhaps he was under the misconception you had asked him to be removed, you should perhaps put his mind at rest," Mr Melick said.
Professor Hughes-Warrington said: "My preference is to establish the facts of the case before I respond," adding she made inquiries about the incident as soon as a complaint was made.
Mr Melick also queried why three security guards had been necessary to let one staff member enter a building. Professor Hughes-Warrington said she was unsure how many actually attended, though said it was not unusual for several personnel to attend call-outs.
Former ANU vice-chancellor Ian Young also fronted the hearing on Thursday. He agreed it would have been "very difficult" for Professor Tregear to continue as head of the School of Music ahead of his separation from the ANU in August 2015, but said he believed the offer of a new role - director of musical engagement - could have worked.
"If he had said he wanted to remain in the position as head of school, I would have supported him in that position," Professor Young said.
The hearing was adjourned with findings to be handed down by mid-June.
