Yesterday the University of Sydney administration announced that it has adopted a policy that represses political speech and activism on campus. This includes the banning  of banners or on campus without receiving prior permission and constraints on staff sending political emails. 

Comments attributable to Timothy Roberts, President NSWCCL 

“The adoption of this policy is a continuation of an alarming trend of political repression and the loss of academic freedom at the University of Sydney. The University’s leadership continues to take regressive stances on speech that should be of grave concern to not only current and former students and staff, but our community. We rely on institutions like USyd having free and open discussions on complex issues. 

“Students have always been at the forefront of many protest movements we celebrate today. Including support for land rights, opposing conscription and apartheid. These ideas were controversial at the time and may have upset some in former university administrations, but history has proven them pivotal to the improvement of our world. 

“Protest is a hallmark of a thriving intellectual community. Universities are supposed to be places where open inquiry and the active debate of ideas is encouraged. 

“The University of Sydney has legislative obligations to protect political speech. NSWCCL is concerned that Sydney University will be in breach of s 31 of the University of Sydney Act, which prohibits it from imposing disciplinary sanctions against students for expressing their political views or beliefs.”