FORMER Melbourne University vice-chancellor Glyn Davis has called the government a “threat” to academic freedoms over its insistence on freedom of speech on campus.
In a heated exchange with former education minister Dan Tehan, Prof Davis wrote “there is an irony in governments deciding to investigate academic freedoms as government frequently emerges as the largest threat to such freedoms”.
- Academic blasts government's insistence on free speech code.
- Suggests government is greatest threat to academic freedom.
- Minister responds saying freedom of speech is government's 'core priority'.
Writing in a newly launched book, Open Minds: Academic Minds and Freedom of Speech in Australia, Prof Davis said universities were being “berated” for not agreeing with the government’s free speech code.
Australia’s tertiary sector has recently been subjected to two government inquiries into academic censorship and on-campus group-think.
AUTONOMY
“Minister Tehan accepted the recommendations from Justice [Robert] French and called on universities to act,” Prof Davis wrote.
“He became more insistent in later media statements, criticising universities for using their autonomy.
“So although the independent review he commissioned found no evidence of systematic threats to academic freedoms or freedom on campus, and although the code was said to be a matter of institutional choice, here was the minister berating the sector for not accepting his preferred outcome.”
Minister Tehan, who now oversees the federal trade portfolio, said freedom of speech remained a core priority for the Morrison government.
“I would politely suggest Mr Davis concentrate on providing long-term funding certainty to the Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation university courses rather than give gratuitous advice on the French model code,” Mr Tehan said.
“Our government worked with universities to implement the French model code, to strengthen protections for freedom of speech and academic freedom on their campuses. Freedom of speech and academic freedom are paramount values of Australian universities.
“By fully adopting the French model code, universities can send a strong message to students, staff and the community about their values and commitment to freedom of speech and academic freedom.”
Meanwhile a number of top university scientists have had their research funding rejected over national security concerns.
CHINESE
The move comes as Australia pounces on academics suspected of collaborating with the Chinese government on research that could deliver to it military or economic advantage.
In a report by The Australian newspaper last week it was revealed that five applicants for Australian Research Council grants were blocked from receiving funding of up to $500,000 a year on the orders from Mr Tehan.
The decision to act was hot on the heels of revelations of cozy ties between Australian scientists and the Chinese Communist Party’s, resulting in the transfer of intellectual property to China.
According to The Australian, one of the rejected grant applications would have funded advanced wireless communications research with applications radar and satellite systems as well as wireless power transmission.
Another would have focused on nanotechnology advances with applications in miniaturised optical systems, including wearables, autonomous vehicles and robots.
Proposed research projects on hi-tech lasers, next-generation electricity networks and cutting-edge fuel cell technology were also rejected.PC
Easy solution for Dan Tehan, if the Universities choose not to comply, they choose not to be provided with Tax Payer funding. Simple!
Oh for goodness sake! Justice French is one wise Judge and his code is profoundly needed. However I don’t know how far his research went if he ‘found no evidence of systematic threats to academic freedoms or freedoms on campus’ as EVERY concerned individual knows full well, that these freedoms, especially the freedom to express contrary views HAVE BEEN DRASTICALLY AND INCREASINGLY COMPROMISED IN OUR AUSTRALIAN UNIVERSITIES over the last thirty years or longer!
As TOBY YOUNG WROTE IN THE SPECTATOR a week ago, WESTMINSTER is about to appoint a ‘Free Speech Champion’ to the Board of the Office for Students to make sure Universities in England and Wales do everything reasonably practicable to uphold freedom of speech within the law, including preventing external speakers from being no-platformed. This new Tsar will have the power TO FINE THE UNIVERSITIES THAT DON’T UPHOLD THE LAW.
IT’s to be hoped that Westminster will soon take the next much-needed step to legally ensure the right of academics to free speech and free expression is also upheld. It goes without saying that freedom of speech and dissemination of ideas is vital to the academic health of any University and is what is so desperately needed here in Australia.