Where do universities stand on the Voice? For many, it’s complicated

The higher education sector is divided over the Voice referendum with just over half of universities supporting a Yes vote and the rest unwilling to make a formal endorsement.

Of the nation’s 41 universities, 23 have publicly backed the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Constitution by establishing an Indigenous Voice to parliament. The remaining 18 have not taken an official position on the referendum which will be held this year, with three universities still considering what they will advise.

Universities have taken differing positions on the Voice referendum.Credit: Steven Siewert

Senior staff at some universities are openly supporting a Yes vote in a personal capacity, even though their institution’s governing body has not endorsed a position on the referendum. In some cases, faculties and institutes are advocating a Yes vote while the university they are associated with is not.

The Voice referendum has been the subject of sustained political debate and recent opinion polls show the Yes side is on track for defeat.

Among the elite Group of Eight research-intensive universities, five have formally backed the Uluru Statement from the Heart and its call to enshrine an Indigenous Voice in the Constitution while three have not – University of Sydney, University of Adelaide and the University of WA.

Group of Eight chief executive Vicki Thomson said the peak group had not taken a formal position “other than to support the process around the referendum and the right for free speech and decision-making in this and any other issues”.

Universities Australia, the peak body representing the higher education sector, has also stopped short of endorsing a Yes vote in the referendum. A statement said it would “work with members to promote and facilitate sector-wide discussion about the First Nations Voice to parliament underpinned by academic freedom and a commitment to the cultural safety of our Indigenous students and staff”.

Some senior academics have criticised universities for not publicly backing a Yes vote.

University of NSW law professor and leading campaigner for the Voice Megan Davis has labelled universities’ refusal to take a joint stand supporting the Voice as “false objectivity”.

“I don’t really stomach the ‘we are mere facilitators of the debate’ approach,” she said in a February speech. “Universities are saying they don’t want to be political but the decision not to take a stance for Uluru and the referendum for a Voice to parliament is a political decision. Silence is political.”

Professor Megan Davis has criticised universities that have declined to take a stand.Credit: Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

Davis said facilitating robust debate about “both sides” of the referendum question was not at odds with a university taking a formal position on the vote.

Higher education researcher Andrew Norton said while some people had berated universities for “sitting on the fence”, there were differing views on how public institutions should engage with the referendum.

“I think some of them are avoiding getting involved in politics,” he said. “It’s not that usual for university leaders to come out on issues not related to higher education.”

Even so, universities from every state and territory are backing a Yes vote including
the Australian National University, Melbourne University, Monash University and the University of NSW.

This masthead surveyed the position of every Australian university on the Voice referendum by drawing on public statements on the topic made by institutions or comments provided by university spokespeople.

Professor of Public Ethics at Charles Sturt University Clive Hamilton said reputation management and marketing were part of the motivation for universities supporting a Yes vote.

“Universities today, especially the Group of Eight, act like corporations, so they have large marketing departments whose job is reputation management,” he said. “They want to present themselves as aligned with the values of young people. In other words, their customers.”

Hamilton said the commitment among many universities to educate more Indigenous students, recruit more Indigenous staff and include more Indigenous studies programs had also encouraged statements of public support for the Voice.

“They feel it would be awkward or even hypocritical if they did not also support the Voice.”

Many universities have hosted speeches and educational events about the Uluru Statement from the Heart and the referendum. Macquarie University, which has not endorsed a Yes or No vote, is offering a free microcredential course “available to anyone seeking to engage with the Indigenous Voice to parliament and gain knowledge to make an informed decision”.

There is widespread support for the Voice among Australia’s biggest companies; eight of the top 10 firms listed on the Australian stock exchange have publicly supported the Uluru Statement from the Heart and the Yes position in the referendum.

The peak bodies of major sporting codes including AFL, cricket, rugby league, rugby union, soccer and netball have all backed a Yes vote, as have many trade unions, charities and religious organisations.

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