Tuesday, 15 October 2019

In reply to  Mrs McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (10 September 2019)

Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education):

I endorse the right of students enrolled in Victorian universities to freedom of speech. As you point out, the purpose of universities is to pursue truth and learning, explore new ideas and research, and promote open discourse. I support diversity of opinion on our university campuses and the ability of students and staff to express their opinions.

Former Chief Justice, Robert French, has found that there is no freedom of speech crisis on our university campuses. The adoption of Justice French’s model code is a matter to be considered and decided by individual universities, and I respect the legal autonomy of Victoria’s universities and their capacity to make decisions regarding their operation and governance.

I encourage universities to continue to engage on this issue to ensure that the right to freedom of speech is preserved on Victorian university campuses.

I trust universities will continue to uphold the principles of academic freedom and freedom of speech, while also recognising the need to foster the wellbeing of staff and students by promoting diversity and inclusiveness, and an absence of discrimination on the basis of race, gender, sexuality, religion and political belief.