Michael Johnston: Former Victoria University Associate Dean & NZ Initiative Research Fellow on freedom of speech laws in university's

The Government wants to change the laws surrounding free speech in New Zealand. 

As part of the Quarter two action plan, legislation will be introduced to require freedom of expression in our university's. 

What impact will the new law have on students and learning? 

Former Victoria University Dean & NZ Initiative Research Fellow Michael Johnston talks to Andrew Dickens about the change. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
And the government wants to shake up free speech laws
in universities. Today's to day it releases its Quarter to
Action plant and one of their focuses includes introducing legislation
to require freedom of expression in our unis and now
former Victoria University Dean and now New Zealand Initiative Research
fellow doctor Michael Johnson is with us and he joins me. Now,

(00:20):
good morning to Michael.

Speaker 2 (00:22):
Oh, good morning. I should point out I was an
associate dean, not a dean.

Speaker 1 (00:26):
Oh, okay, that's very important. Is this necessary?

Speaker 2 (00:32):
I believe it is. And the New Zealand Initiative Where
Are Now work also does our research fellow James Kirsted
published a report last year that showed that high proportions
of academics and students feel intimidated to talk about certain
topics in the university and including things like the Treaty

(00:52):
of White Tonguey and sex and gender issues surrounding that.
So a range of issues academics and students are feeling
worried about talking about and we do need to beef
up protections for their ability to do so.

Speaker 1 (01:09):
So I thought this was about freedom of speech, but
not the freedom to talk about treaty issues or gender issues.

Speaker 2 (01:16):
Well, freedom of speech encompasses the ability to talk about
all kinds of things, and academics and students have to
have academic freedom to broach any topic that they want
to in the university environment. That's what universities are for.
They're supposed to be forums for discussion of all kinds
of different ideas.

Speaker 1 (01:36):
So they can talk about treaty and gender.

Speaker 2 (01:38):
Issues, amongst other things.

Speaker 1 (01:41):
Yes, okay, is this problem institutional or is it amongst
the students or is it ingrained in the faculty.

Speaker 2 (01:49):
Well, to some extent, it's all three. There's evidence that
there's huge political bias within the faculty, so they lean
massive life left. The student population almost certainly does as well.
But certainly some of these measures come from the Sorry,

(02:09):
problems come from the university administration. So the problems in
all three of those bodies of people.

Speaker 1 (02:18):
Okay, sir, in your opinion, what would the law look like?

Speaker 2 (02:22):
Well, first of all, the universities need to be reminded
of their obligation under the Education and Training Act to
protect academic freedom on our campuses. And we think that
that will only happen if the legislation has a bit
of teeth to it. So there needs to be some
kind of financial penalty for universities that consistently breach their

(02:47):
members that as students or academics academic freedom.

Speaker 1 (02:52):
All right, Michael and I thank you so much for
your time. Michael the former Associate Dean of Victoria University
and New Zealand Initiative Research Failing. For more from earlier
edition with Ryan Bridge, listen live to Newstalk Set B
from five am weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio