Union rejects decision to cancel Yossi Olmert lecture
30 August 2001
The National Executive of the NTEU, meeting in Melbourne last week, unanimously endorsed a resolution condemning the decision of Victoria University management to cancel a lecture by visiting academic Dr Yossi Olmert as a breach of academic freedom.
The cancellation of the lecture by the University has prompted allegations that it was cancelled because of the controversial nature of Dr Olmert\'s views. The Victoria University Branch of the NTEU had sent an email to management urging that an opposing speaker be found to debate Dr Olmert, but at no stage did it call for the lecture to be cancelled.
NTEU General Secretary Grahame McCulloch said that the Union opposed any attempts to restrict the legitimate right to freedom of expression enjoyed by all academics, and wished to place its position firmly on the public record.
`The facts are that, while many of the union\'s members might strongly disagree with Dr Olmert\'s views, we did not call for the lecture to be cancelled,\' he said. `We are deeply disturbed by ill-informed comments by some individuals and organizations which suggest that the Union did call for the lecture to be cancelled.\'
`Such misinformation can only add to the high emotion generated by this case, and for this reason we want to set the record straight.\'
The National Executive resolution is as follows:
The NTEU National Executive notes that academic debate does not require opposing speakers on the same occasion. The Executive condemns the decision of Victoria University to cancel the scheduled lecture by Yossi Olmert as a fundamental breach of academic freedom.