PANDERING universities that have shut down freedom of speech and academic inquiry face tough new legislation if they continue to reject the basics of Western educational standards.
Under pressure to appease the Chinese Communist Party and high-value corporate sponsors, a number of Australian universities have systematically suspended students, removed staff and deleted social media posts over comments that they’ve judged to be offensive.
Federal Education Minister Dan Tehan said yesterday that these actions were concerning.
DEMOCRACY
“We want to make sure that when it comes to our nation that we are renowned globally as a pillar for upholding freedom of speech and freedom of academic inquiry,” he told Sky News during an interview on the Sharri program.
“I want all international students to know, I want all domestic students to know that when you go to university in Australia, you know that you are going to institutions that will absolutely uphold the fundamental principles on which our democracy is built.”
Mr Tehan’s comments followed the appointment of former Deakin University vice-chancellor Sally Walker to investigate whether universities are in alignment with the free speech code devised by former High Court chief justice Robert French last year.
Her review will assess whether there are gaps in university responses to Mr French’s freedom-of-speech code, and if more action is required to ensure academic freedoms are protected.
Mr Tehan did not rule out a legislative response.
“If Sally thinks we need to legislate then we will look very seriously at that,” he said.
“The reason those international students come here is to get a quality education – and that quality education means that we will without fear or favour teach what is needed in a quality education.
FEAR
“It means we will teach all the philosophies and all that students need to know about different forms of government and we will do that without fear.
“That is why I want Sally Walker to continue to make sure our universities know and understand how important it is.”
Mr Tehan said he didn’t care which governments across the globe were “taking an interest” in Australia’s higher education market.
“We will teach, inform and educate our students without fear or favour.”
Former High Court chief justice Robert French’s review, which was released in April 2019, called for the adoption of codes designed to strengthen academic freedom and freedom of speech.
It called for an alignment of language used around “free intellectual inquiry” with “Free Speech” and “Academic Freedom” to bring greater clarity and consistency.PC
I agree with Jenny and would add that it’s educationally regressive, actually quite barbaric, that the Arts, and I believe, Law Degrees are to weighed down with a huge price tag that discourages study of the humanities; discourages creative, critical and philosophical thinking!
This deplorable decision has the same nasty odour, the same ugly tinge as the appalling refusal by most of Australia’s supposedly ‘top’ Universities to accept any Scholarship offered by the Ramsay Centre for the study of Western Civilisation; that amazing process and progress which engendered our advanced society of today.
I’ve already written above of the unconscionable lack of free speech in Tertiary Institutions, but not about the two immediate and quite shocking individual cases. The despicable actions of the James Cook and Queensland Universities have left a black miasma hanging over them both.
The first instance of the denial of free speech (or expression), is that of Professor Peter Ridd. He has been treated abominably, fired, vilified and his life ruined by James Cook Uni, all because he dared to point out that some previous research/conclusion about the Great Barrier Reef put forward by a group of researchers, was not fully verified, was in fact faulty. For his foray into truth and free expression of it, he was fired, lost his whole income. He initially won his legal action against this Uni but the University appealed – using taxpayer money – and their appeal was upheld. Ridd is at present running a ‘go fund me’ page to proceed to the High Court and I wish him the success he so very greatly deserves.
The second instance is of a student of Queensland University, Drew Pavlou,- he was similarly punished, this time by expulsion and just for standing up and expressing his aversion to China’s human rights abuses, something we should ALL do! This University is one of many that educates a great many students from mainland China and these ‘sweeties’ – ran whinging to the powers that be! Drew is at present launching an action against this Institution. The best of luck to Drew, a very courageous young man!
Jenny, I’m sure you are a dedicated Lecturer who really loves her work and I’m supposing you probably don’t earn a king’s (or queen’s ransom) However, Chancellors and Vice Chancellors do earn on this massive scale and I’ve been advised on good authority that the top Universities are actually very well off. (Benefactors, grants etc.) They decline to spend from their own stash, preferring to cry poor to the Government of the time!
My last gripe is political. It has been proven, – well documented, that a greater proportion of Academic Staff are strongly left-wing, many quite socialist. This unfortunately is slanting their teaching and many are very intolerant of having any other political views expressed. This is wrong and plays right into the hands of the Confucius Institutes, the offspring of the Chinese Communist Party. These ‘institutes’ can, of course, say and do as they please – and it pleases them to infiltrate our society, to promote and indoctrinate our Australian students with their horrible politics!
An independent inquiry? Definitely – and long overdue – but for MANY reasons, for many shortcomings!
I’m appalled by the commentary on universities above. I have spent my working life as an academic at a prestigious Go8 university working 50 to 60 hours a week throughout the whole year (without extra pay given or requested) because, like every academic that I know, I love teaching and research, and care deeply about my students and their future. Successive governments have reduced funding. Hence class sizes have increased, casualisation of academic staff has increased to unacceptable levels, and universities have been forced to rely on fee-paying overseas students. The impact of Covid 19 has revealed the fissures in the system. And now the government is about to reduce funding further to a sector already crippled by lack of funding all in the guise of creating so-called job-ready students. Oh and they want to more than triple the cost of a degree to students of history and other disciplines in the society and culture cluster through legislation soon to be introduced that is riddled with inconsistencies. Sadly Minister Tehan (himself an Arts graduate!) wants the cost of disciplines that teach creative and critical thinking to $14,000 for each unit. It is time for a review of the university sector, chaired by an impartial public figure.
Education Minister Dan Tehan has had enough time to rectify the situation. It was very clear from the outset that Justice Richard French’s recommendations should have been made mandatory, by legislation if necessary; and made unequivocally clear to Australian university managements that they would comprehensively abide by French’s recommendations or be sacked.
In the case of freedom of speech and intellectual debate, Tehan is dragging his heels, and has completely failed in his responsibilities.
“Federal Education Minister Dan Tehan said yesterday that these actions were concerning.”
It’s not “concerning”; it’s an absolute outrage.
The universities should be closed down and Tehan should be sacked.
After that’s been done, we can start again from scratch.
It’s more than concerning Dan, it’s UNCONSCIONABLE, ATROCIOUSLY STULTIFYING and INHIBITING, – AGAINST EVERYTHING A UNIVERSITY SHOULD STAND FOR!
Universities are where the groundwork for producing great thinkers and great achievers is laid. It is absolutely essential that there is completely free speech and open enquiry. That there is absolute freedom to confidently report on ALL concepts arising from explorations along a multitude of paths.
Many, many hours of vibrant, wide-ranging discussion and debate should be massively encouraged and expected as an absolute constant of University life. But then of course, this would demand the engaged, encouraging participation of the academic staff after hours, giving their time WITHOUT REMUNERATION!
Without this wonderful vitality, these Institutions become merely a dull factory churning out very average, monotonous products with very little potential.
What happened to the old saying, ” I don’t agree with what you say, but I defend your right to say it” That was free speech…. That was honest response. Not Political correct crap….
The culture is so warped in universities laws wont help. It needs to be ENFORCED and in schools. Men & boys have been oppressed, disenfranchised & abused by these institutions, as has humanity & peace.
Liar. What about Peter Ridd. He was sacked from the JCU for speaking out about shoddy science…. He won his court case, but the appeal overturned it. There is no “Free Speech” at Australian Universities. There is only officially sanctioned speech and politically correct speech. But there is no free speech as as the Qld court of appeals has ruled.
Freedom of speech in universities? The reality is that “free speech” is limited to what your lecturer/tutor requires. Express an alternative opinion at your own risk, and low marks.