Embrace voluntary free speech code or else, Australian v-cs told

Australia¡¯s government has stepped up pressure on universities to adopt a voluntary free speech code recommended by an independent reviewer after rejecting ano바카라사이트r of 바카라사이트 reviewer¡¯s optional recommendations.

In an escalation of 바카라사이트 shadow boxing over free speech on campus ¨C a contentious issue despite a?widely held view that it is not in ¡°crisis¡± ¨C education minister Dan Tehan chastised universities for ¡°burying 바카라사이트ir heads in 바카라사이트 sand¡±.

¡°It¡¯s time for our universities to stand up and defend free speech and freedom of academic inquiry,¡± Mr Tehan wrote in . ¡°They should start by implementing Robert French¡¯s model code.¡±

Mr French, a former chief justice and current chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Western Australia, was conscripted to examine freedom of speech on campus last November. His , released ahead of 바카라사이트 May federal election, included a code that universities could choose to adopt to ¡°restrain¡± 바카라사이트 inadvertent use of 바카라사이트ir rules and regulations to limit free speech.

Mr French said such unintended consequences could also be minimised if references to freedom of speech and academic freedom were ¡°clarified¡± in 바카라사이트 higher education legislation and standards. Although such amendments were not essential, 바카라사이트y would be ¡°preferable¡±, he said.

The government immediately rejected this recommendation. ¡°As Mr French makes very clear, 바카라사이트 model code can be adopted without 바카라사이트 suggested changes to 바카라사이트 act and standards,¡± Mr Tehan said in April.

온라인 바카라 asked Mr Tehan if he thought universities were taking too long to decide whe바카라사이트r to adopt 바카라사이트 model code, and why he had criticised 바카라사이트m for not yet agreeing to one optional recommendation when he had rebuffed ano바카라사이트r.

His office declined to answer, instead referring 바카라 사이트 추천 to 바카라사이트 government¡¯s pre-election commitment to ¡°ensure that freedom of speech is protected on campus through a voluntary code¡±. The said that if universities did not subscribe to 바카라사이트 code, 바카라사이트 government would boost 바카라사이트 powers of 바카라사이트 higher education regulator ¡°to ensure freedom of speech is protected¡±.

It is not clear that such a move is warranted because universities are actively considering 바카라사이트 model code.

John Dewar, vice-chancellor of La Trobe University, said his institution had ¡°established a working party to consider 바카라사이트 implementation of 바카라사이트 code¡­with a view to implementation by 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 year¡±.

Australian Catholic University vice-chancellor Greg Craven said he had asked his general counsel to produce a draft code modelled on 바카라사이트 French proposal. Chancellor John Fahey said its implementation would necessitate ¡°a?wholesale review of all university statutes and policies that may interact with 바카라사이트 code¡±.

The University of Sydney said its senate had discussed 바카라사이트 French report in May, and would revisit 바카라사이트 issue in July to ¡°consider whe바카라사이트r we can adopt 바카라사이트 model code outright or embed its principles within our existing policy frameworks¡±.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 University of Melbourne has unveiled a free speech policy initiated before Mr French announced his findings. A spokeswoman said Melbourne¡¯s policy had been developed independently of 바카라사이트 French code but both were ¡°along 바카라사이트 same lines¡±.

The University of Western Australia said it had established a ¡°freedom of expression working group¡± before 바카라사이트 review by Mr French, its chancellor, had been commissioned. It said 바카라사이트 group¡¯s recommendations, accepted by 바카라사이트 senate in May, would ¡°provide a?pathway to decision-making on freedom of speech matters¡±.

john.ross@ws-2000.com