Free Speech Union welcomes legislation to protect academic freedom in universities introduced to Parliament today

08 April 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Free Speech Union welcomes legislation to protect academic freedom in universities introduced to Parliament today

Amendments to the Education and Training Act introduced to Parliament today will ensure greater protection for academic freedom at universities. We applaud the Government for this initiative to ensure academics are free to exercise their roles as ‘critic and conscience’ of society, says Jonathan Ayling, Chief Executive of the Free Speech Union. 

“The Free Speech Union was pleased to contribute extensively to the development of the policy. We’re thrilled to see this coalition commitment achieved by the Government, acknowledging the opposition to academic freedom that has emerged across our universities, and requiring them to once again be places where academics and students are free to challenge the status quo and voice dissenting perspectives.  

“Institutional neutrality is the sine qua non of academic freedom. We welcome the inclusion of Section 12 of the Bill, outlining that ‘universities should not take positions on matters that do not directly concern their role or functions’. If we are to have a culture that upholds free speech, our universities must lead the way. This cannot happen while universities take stances on political and cultural issues, stifling academics with dissenting views. 

“The inclusion of processes for holding universities to account through annual reports and robust complaints systems is also important. 

“We are concerned, however, that these objectives could be undermined by the new section 127(2)(e), which enshrines requirements to reflect  mātauranga Māori. Debate around the role of mātauranga Māori has faced consistent suppression, and provisions in this law with respect to academic freedom must ensure that open discourse and dissent on this subject is protected.  

“While legislation will play a significant role in promoting the protection of academic freedom, meaningful change depends on universities fostering a widespread understanding of the necessity of free speech.

“For too long, we’ve seen opinions at universities stifled, creating a documented ‘culture of fear’, resulting in academics self-censoring. We commend the Government for taking steps to reverse this trend and are proud to have played a key role in its development.”