ACADEMIC FREEDOM UNDER THREAT FROM ‘WAR ON TERROR’ AND GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE
20 September 2006
Academic freedom, a fundamental feature of our universities and a key part of their domestic and international reputation, is under threat by increased Federal Government interference in university affairs and Australia’s reaction to the ‘war on terror’, the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) said on Thursday.
Responding to this threat will be a key focus of the NTEU 2006 National Council meeting, which opens in Melbourne today.
“Academic freedom, including the ability of staff to freely teach, assess, publish and research, engage in debate, and participate in professional and representative bodies without fear or harassment, is absolutely essential to the work of universities and is increasingly being eroded,” said Dr Carolyn Allport, NTEU President.
“The Union is particularly concerned by the fall out from the Federal Government’s counter-terrorism measures, which threaten to stifle research and critical debate, and place university staff at risk of being questioned by ASIO, made subject to control orders or, in extreme cases, being jailed, simply for doing their jobs.”
“The potential for these laws to stifle the ability of academics to undertake research and engage in debate was highlighted last week by the controversy over a Flinders University researcher awarded a significant grant by the Australian Research Council (ARC) for a study on suicide bombers.”
“The academic in question has been forced to scale back the project after being informed by the Federal Government that his plans to interview leadership figures of several terrorist organizations could contravene the Anti-Terrorism Act 2005.”
“Academic freedom is also under attack from mounting Federal Government interference in the day-to-day operations of universities, changes to the ARC and its independent peer review process, and making funding contingent on meeting workplace relations policy objectives.”
Approximately 200 staff from universities around Australia, representing NTEU’s 28,000 members, will discuss strategies, including the need to work with Vice-Chancellors, to strengthen their institution’s formal and active support for academic freedom.
“The Union also needs to play a greater role in bringing about a deeper community understanding and support for human rights, including academic freedom rights, and will continue to work for changes to anti-terror legislation to ensure that university staff are not exposed to potential sanctions for doing their job.”
“A key question is how we can better manage the balancing act between academic freedom and measures to counter terror if universities cannot play their role in providing objective, evidence based research, analysis and opinion to governments and the community.”
“Curbing research proposals that could potentially generate a greater understanding of the issue or preventing students from viewing books because of their content puts us on a dangerous path,” said Dr Allport. “How can we understand the complex issues surrounding terrorism if we can’t engage in frank and fearless research, and be supported in this work by our institutions and the Government?”
For media inquiries and comment:
Andrew Nette, NTEU Policy and Research Coordinator: (03) 9254 1910