Statement from Vice-Chancellor at Senate Inquiry

The Australian National University student population is small by Australian university standards, but it includes students from more than 100 countries and from every state and territory. This reflects Australia’s multicultural values as well as our mission to support engagement with Asia and the Pacific. And it expands the education, and opportunities, of our domestic and international students alike.  

Diversity underpins our core values – academic rigour, freedom of expression, and service in the national interest. We see this as a strength and an attribute of our university.  

This strength is borne from the innate challenges that come with freedom and difference. Freedom of thought and freedom of speech do not necessarily equal freedom from consequences.  

In a time of heightened tension, it is incumbent upon all of us to take care with our words and actions, and consider their implications for ourselves, and how they impact others. 

This is also true for our students, staff, academics, and visitors.  

A high quality education extends beyond the classroom – we must teach our students to treat each other with respect, humility, and compassion. Especially those with whom we have a difference of opinion, perspective, or experience.  

The safety and wellbeing of our students and staff is one of our highest priorities and greatest responsibilities. ANU maintains a suite of policies and procedures which prohibits discrimination, vilification, intimidation, violence and other oppressive and disrespectful behaviour by and against all its staff and students, whatever their cultural background, religion, or political conviction. This approach is consistent with how the Parliament has chosen to legislate on these issues. As are our policies protecting academic freedom, freedom of speech, the right to respectful protest.   

The University’s policies, and the way we apply them, are designed to support our people, and balance our commitment to freedom of expression with our legal responsibility to provide a safe environment, including wellbeing and psycho-social safety.  

This balance is the result of many years of consideration and consultation. We will continue to evolve our policies and procedures to reflect changes in context and community expectations.  

ANU has learnt from our recent experiences.  We have updated and reviewed a number of our policies and procedures to ensure where individuals behave in ways that are contrary to their responsibilities, they can be held accountable. 

The University has spent considerable time exploring the issues covered in this Bill. Let me be clear. Antisemitism has no place at ANU, or in broader Australian society. Any form of prejudice, discrimination, or racism, is antithetical to what ANU stands and strives for.   

We welcome the opportunity to continue working with the Parliament, the Special Envoy, the public service, community and student groups, and other universities, to understand and combat these challenges.  

Again, I’m grateful for the time to make this opening statement, and look forward to your questions.