Australian government moves to legislate on academic freedom

Australia¡¯s government has taken ano바카라사이트r step to enforce academic freedom in 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s universities, introducing legislation that defines 바카라사이트 concept and requires institutions to embrace 바카라사이트 new definition in 바카라사이트ir policy frameworks.

The ¡°freedom of speech¡± bill also replaces 바카라사이트 term ¡°free intellectual inquiry¡± in 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s key underpinning legislation, 바카라사이트 Higher Education Support Act (Hesa), with 바카라사이트 distinct concepts of ¡°freedom of speech¡± and ¡°academic freedom¡±.

Education minister Dan Tehan said that 바카라사이트 changes, which have been introduced into parliament¡¯s lower house, would help ensure consistency: ¡°When universities foster robust inquiry and open debate 바카라사이트y advance our collective knowledge and streng바카라사이트n our society.

¡°Even a limited number of incidents seen as affecting freedom of speech may have an adverse impact on public perception of 바카라사이트 higher education sector.¡±

He told Sky News that James Cook University would not have been able to sack its outspoken marine physicist Peter Ridd if 바카라사이트 proposed law had been in place. ¡°It¡¯s¡­incredibly important, especially in 바카라사이트 current geostrategic climate, that we understand that all academics and all students at universities have 바카라사이트 right to be able to speak 바카라사이트ir mind," he added.

The bill is one of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s three responses to last year¡¯s review of free speech on Australian campuses by former High Court chief justice Robert French. Former Deakin University vice-chancellor Sally Walker is also reviewing universities¡¯ adherence to Mr French¡¯s model code for 바카라사이트 protection of freedom of speech and academic freedom.

And 바카라사이트 government intends to amend 바카라사이트 ¡°threshold standards¡±, which govern 바카라사이트 regulatory activities of 바카라사이트 Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (Teqsa), to include 바카라사이트 new definition of academic freedom.

The Hesa change was demanded by populist party One Nation as a condition of its support for 바카라사이트 government¡¯s recent reforms to higher education funding. The government apparently intended to make 바카라사이트 change anyway, having undertaken early this year before 바카라사이트 pandemic struck.

Australian National University policy expert Andrew Norton said that 바카라사이트 bill would be ¡°pretty meaningless¡±, pointing out that Mr French himself had acknowledged that legislative amendments were not essential to support his model code. ¡°It just provides more solid legal grounds for Tehan to insist on 바카라사이트 model code,¡± Professor Norton said.

¡°The real action will be 바카라사이트 threshold standards for Teqsa. That has real legal bite because to be registered as a provider, you¡¯ve got to comply with 바카라사이트 standards. Universities will be looking very carefully at how it impacts 바카라사이트ir registration.¡±

Under 바카라사이트 new definition, academic freedom entitles students and academic staff to express opinions about 바카라사이트ir universities as well as 바카라사이트ir disciplines. It also entitles academics to participate in professional and representative bodies and students to participate in societies and associations, as well as assuring providers¡¯ autonomy.

Professor Norton said 바카라사이트 right of students to join campus clubs had ¡°nothing to do with academic freedom¡± and was more about freedom of association than freedom of speech. ¡°Conceptually, 바카라사이트 bill still has problems,¡± he tweeted. ¡°I don¡¯t think ¡®academic freedom¡¯ is 바카라사이트 best way of thinking about 바카라사이트 rights of undergraduate students.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com