Young Liberals face expulsion calls over Red Zone report ripping
NSW Young Liberals who ripped up a report about sexual misconduct in Australian university colleges are facing calls for their expulsion as an investigation into the incident begins.
NSW
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NSW Young Liberals who gleefully ripped up reports detailing bullying and sexual misconduct at Australian university colleges in the wake of a disturbing hazing incident are now facing calls for their expulsion.
A representative at a University of Sydney council meeting was discussing a recent hazing incident at St Paul’s College in which a student was gagged with a sex toy when students began ripping up a well-known report on bullying at residential colleges.
Videos depict the students – allegedly affiliated with the NSW Young Liberals – laughing as pieces of the 2018 Red Zone report on sexual violence and hazing at Australian university colleges – were scattered in the council chamber.
Six students were expelled from St Paul’s College and 21 others suspended after the grim hazing incident in October, which was being discussed as the report ripping stunt unfolded.
Hilma’s Network executive director Charlotte Mortlock, whose advocacy focuses on increasing female representation in the Liberal movement, called for those involved to be expelled from the Liberal Party and resign from the student council.
“Regardless of whether you agree with the contents, ripping up a report about the safety of women on campus is flagrantly disrespectful,” Ms Mortlock said.
“We cannot tolerate this behaviour in the grassroots of our Liberal youth movement, because if they get away with this sort of behaviour now, the cycle will continue as their careers progress.”
NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman criticised the students’ conduct.
“Any mocking of a report about disgusting behaviour is in itself disgusting behaviour,” Mr Speakman said.
“I have asked the state director to urgently investigate.”
NSW Young Liberals president Chanum Torres welcomed the investigation.
“We take matters of women’s safety very seriously,” Mr Torres said.
Another senior Liberal source told The Sunday Telegraph the students would have to be reprimanded over the unedifying incident.
End Rape On Campus founder and director Sharna Bremner – who spearheaded the Red Zone report – said the students’ behaviour was “gutting”.
“To see young people making light of really serious incidents like sexual assault, gang rape and suicide, is just absolutely horrifying,” Ms Bremner said.
“It was actually really unnerving to see it being dismissed so blithely and easily.”
While some described the recent hazing incident as an “outlier”, Ms Bremner said the council meeting incident proved there was still work to do.
“If that mindset, that attitude wasn’t still present we wouldn’t have seen these students acting the way that they did,” Ms Bremner said.
Sexual consent activist Chanel Contos said issues unveiled in the Australian Human Rights Commission’s 2017 report on university colleges evidently persisted.
“This does not mean that efforts have not been made, but that more needs to be done in universities and colleges all around Australia,” Ms Contos said.
“We keep underestimating this issue and then somehow being shocked every few months when a single instance of what is pervasive behaviour comes to light.”
Ms Contos said the council meeting incident reflected the broader social issue of low empathy for women and victims of sexual assault.
The university’s deputy vice chancellor Joanne Wright said the university was deeply disappointed and expected higher standards from their students.
“Any behaviour that mocks victim survivors or ignores the impact of trauma resulting from sexual misconduct is absolutely unacceptable and we are initiating an immediate inquiry,” Prof Wright said.
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