Call to enshrine academic freedom in law

THE federal Government's commitment to academic freedom shows how arbitrary such arrangements are and underlines the need to consider legislative remedies, according to a specialist in the area.

THE federal Government's commitment to academic freedom shows how arbitrary such arrangements are and underlines the need to consider legislative remedies, according to a specialist in the area.

At an academic forum on Friday, RMIT University lecturer Sharon Andrews, who has campaigned for two years via the Freedom of Information Act to find out about Australian Research Council grants vetoed by former education minister Brendan Nelson, will applaud Innovation, Industry, Science and Research Minister Kim Carr's commitment to academic independence and to scientists engaging in public debate.

Senator Carr has promised charters between the Government and public research institutions such as CSIRO to enshrine the rights of scientists. He has also promised to publish his reasons if he vetoes any ARC grants.

"For a long time I did not think it would happen," DrAndrews said yesterday of the commitment to academic independence. "Now I think we need to think about this in the long term, establishing and institutionalising ideas around scientific independence and academic freedom.

"Although this is a good step, it shows the arbitrary nature of the support for this from government. The previous government did not have it on the agenda.

"I think we need to think about putting in place legislation where we can, not necessarily for academic freedom, but add it to the roles and responsibilities of universities."

Legislation regarding universities is the responsibility of state governments.

Academic freedom and engaging in public debate are issues to be explored at a Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies forum in Canberra on Friday, which will also be addressed by Senator Carr.

Among the speakers with recent experience of advocacy is Matthew England, co-director of the Climate Change Research Centre at the University of NSW.

Together with his co-director Andy Pitman and others, Professor England seized the opportunity afforded by the post-Kyoto climate talks held in Bali in December to produce the Bali Climate Declaration by Scientists. The statement, which had been in the planning since July, received wide attention.

"We wanted scientists to be represented there in as clear a way as possible," Professor England said. More than 200 scientists put their names to the statement, which seeks an immediate reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

For Professor England, Senator Carr's stance represented a "great call to arms" for scientists. "I will mention Bali on Friday, but I also want to say I absolutely agree with the idea that we need to advocate," he said. "And you can do advocacy and be objective. I have nothing to gain in my career in any way by governments signing treaties to decrease greenhouse emissions."