Student activists could be forced to pay for the security costs involved in protecting controversial speakers from disruptive campus protests under a plan put forward by federal education minister Dan Tehan.
In two recent interviews, Tehan said that the idea had been discussed with vice-chancellors from the elite Group of Eight universities as part of a Morrison government initiative to protect freedom of speech at universities.
The move follows protests earlier in September over a speech by controversial sex therapist Bettina Arndt to the Sydney University Liberal Club. Arndt was invited to address the club to discuss her claims regarding “the myth” that there has been an increase in sexual assaults at Australia’s university campuses.
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