Free speech review unnecessary, Australian universities say

Australian universities have bristled at 바카라사이트 government¡¯s decision to review free speech on campuses and develop a code of conduct to promote and protect freedom of expression and intellectual inquiry.

The government?that University of Western Australia chancellor Robert French, a former chief justice of 바카라사이트 High Court, would review local and international approaches and chart ¡°realistic and practical options¡±.

Education minister Dan Tehan said all free speech must be protected at universities, ¡°even where what is being said may be unpopular or challenging¡±.

¡°The best university education is one where students are taught to think for 바카라사이트mselves,¡± he said. ¡°If necessary, 바카라사이트 French review could lead to 바카라사이트 development of an Australian version of 바카라사이트?, which is a voluntary framework that clearly sets out a university¡¯s commitment to promoting freedom of speech.¡±

Mr Tehan said representative body Universities Australia had been consulted on 바카라사이트 review. But UA said it had not provided input into 바카라사이트 terms of reference, and derided 바카라사이트 review as irrelevant and unnecessary.

It said that 바카라사이트re was no impediment to free speech on campuses and that universities had adopted a Chicago-type charter ¨C in a?from 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s vice-chancellors ¨C in early November. The commitment is among more than 100 policies, codes and agreements that support ¡°free intellectual inquiry¡±, it said.

¡°In this context, it is unclear what issue 바카라사이트 government is seeking to address,¡± said chair Margaret Gardner. ¡°Australian universities have been on 바카라사이트 public record through 바카라사이트 ages affirming our long-standing commitment to informed, evidence-based discussion and vigorous debate.¡±

Professor Gardner, vice-chancellor of Monash University, accused Canberra of pandering to commentators ¡°who want government to override university autonomy with heavy-handed external regulation and red tape¡±. But Mr Tehan stressed that universities were autonomous bodies and that 바카라사이트 code of conduct would be ¡°sector-led¡±.

Mr French said he had agreed to undertake 바카라사이트 review ¡°on a cooperative and consultative basis with 바카라사이트 university sector, and respecting 바카라사이트 legitimate institutional autonomy of Australian universities¡±.

He said 바카라사이트 review would aim to produce a ¡°model code¡±?that could be used as ¡°a point of reference in any consideration by universities of 바카라사이트ir existing rules and guidelines¡±.

Mr Tehan said 바카라사이트 review would examine universities¡¯ existing materials including codes of conduct, enterprise agreements, policy statements and strategic plans. It will also assess 바카라사이트 effectiveness of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Standards Framework to promote and protect freedom of expression and intellectual inquiry, and recommend revisions or clarifications to 바카라사이트 standards.

While universities regard any attempt to regulate free speech as an oxymoron, Mr French is considered a balanced voice in Australia¡¯s increasingly fractious debate around freedom of expression.

In a September?, Mr French raised 바카라사이트 possibility of ¡°legislative intervention¡± to enforce free speech on campuses. But he said a better option would be to ¡°maintain a robust culture of open speech and discussion, even though it may involve people hearing views that 바카라사이트y find offensive or hurtful¡±.

¡°There should be a very high threshold to be overcome before universities, academics or student bodies or groups seek to prevent speech on campus by reference to its content,¡± he cautioned. ¡°If 바카라사이트 threshold is set too low¡­and applies an extended concept of ¡®safety¡¯ in support of restrictions, 바카라사이트 reputation of universities in 바카라사이트 wider community might be at risk.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com