Sydney University: Monitoring Free Speech

... ironically and coincidentally as the Parliament debates "Antisemitism" enquiry

Sydney University Students for Palestine recently hosted a panel discussion on Palestine to raise awareness of what’s going on. After the University’s Draconian “Campus Access Policy” slipped in quietly before term - the Uni demanded the event be recorded.

I am so angry about this. Big Brother monitoring, censorship and intimidation by Sydney University to appease a powerful pro-Israeli lobby.

I honestly think people will look back on this in 10-20 years time and think … what the absolute fuck? Right side of history and all that.

A decent humanitarian discussion in a liberal place of education on the Palestinian situation by a respected panel of activists - and they receive a notice less than 24hrs before the event that "due to potential for DISTRESS"..

• The event will be moved to a lecture theatre to be recorded

• No "antisemitic or racist" words

• Must be conducted with "highest levels of professional, ethical and legal conduct"

• The recording will be reviewed later as evidence for any complaints or concerns

Where do I begin?

• Ironic - claiming to protect free speech, whilst monitoring and recording a discussion

• Rich - “highest standards of ethical, legal conduct” - whilst the University maintains investments and research links with companies involved in Israeli weapons manufacture (see article below in “Related Articles” section on this)

• Infringement on civil/human rights

• Caving in to the pro-Israeli lobby (see article below on the lobby in “Related Articles” section on this)

• Protecting arse for private legal action (Vice-Chancellor Mark Scott - individual class action from pro-Israeli lobby sponsored law firm) like an Israeli PM?

Noting the pincer movement from the pro-Israeli lobby here:

• Antisemitism Bill: Calling for Royal Commission into “Antisemitism” at Universities - witch hunt, wasting Parliamentary time, obfuscating, distorting and diverting attention from the real issue … you know, the genocide

• IHRA Definition of antisemitism - pushed to Universities: to further shut down free speech

Let’s look at those in turn.

“Antisemitism Bill”

Update: Senate hearings into cases for/against the commission were held Friday 19th September. See below for article on quite an illuminating event:

"Antisemitism" Inquiry at Australian Universities: Fait Accompli?

In the wake of the encampments across Australia, and the pro-Palestine protests and education of the public in the true nature of what’s been happening.

And what happens? Some people feel “distressed” - because students - in-line with public opinion and international law - are calling out Israel’s war crimes.

So this guy - after consulting with a number of groups including an extreme right-wing racist pro-Israel group - introduces a call for a freaking Royal Commission.

What the Parliament COULD be doing with it’s time

1. Actually doing something about the situation in Gaza

2. Kicking off a much more worthy longstanding call for a Royal Commission into the Press Monopoly in Australia; noting we are #38 in the world for Press Freedom - and it shows

   And whilst we’re at it…

3. A Royal Commission into the definition of "foreign interest lobby" and charity status of those blatant pro-Israeli enabling organisations

   

   Pro-Israeli lobbying: Expensed flights, tax-free charitable status in Australia - acting on behalf of a foreign state

4. A Royal Commission into the appropriateness of 11 Parliamentary Friends of Israel groups and 55 sitting MPs who have taken pro-Israeli lobby personal paid trips to Israel

5. A Royal Commission into the Government enabling Israel’s mass killing in Gaza - noting the ICC recently accepted a dossier on PM Albanese’s actions enabling Netanyahu, Gallant whom warrants have been requested for.

“Antisemitism envoy”

The "antisemitism envoy" appointed by the Government - blatantly, unashamedly biased and pro-Israel.

Shocking statements made in the past on conflating Zionism and Judaism, pushing IHRA definition of antisemitism on universities … and statements on the war itself.

If there was a US-style hearing on the appropriateness of a Government appoints - NO WAY would she be appointed.

But she was appointed in a hurry - Noting despite the head of ASIO in the press conference saying that “they were treating Islamophobia and antisemitism equally” - read. over-stated “issue”.

The appointment - with her own large Department - was just before a global meeting of Antisemitism envoys in Argentina (a notable “NO” in the recent GA vote on Israel sanctions in the wake of the ICJ Illegal Occupation legal advisory - with 124 countries for).

In order to create such a Department in the US they had to create a Bill currently passing through the House. In Australia - you just slip it in through the back door after pressure from the pro-Israeli lobby.

Who defines antisemitism for reviewing the student recording?

So to the point on IHRA definition of antisemitism - which shuts down free speech further, and shuts out any criticism of Israel as "antisemitic".

Wouldn't that be convenient if that definition were used when reviewing the recording of a discussion of Israel's actions in Gaza? Perhaps taking specialist advice from .. What, say the envoy?

And as to "distress"… don't even.

Utterly shocking Sydney University. For shame.

RELATED ARTICLES

Summary of Sleekit Scotsman ☮️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Substack Related Articles to this topic:

---

ℹ️ Senate hearings into antisemitism inquiry at Australian Universities. A farce, setup and most probably a Fait Accompli.

ℹ️ Sydney University: ties to Israel and weapons companies:

ℹ️ Australian Lapdog MPs - jumping for the pro-Israeli lobby; article on why, using recent doxxing laws as example:

ℹ️ ASIO threat level increase - yet antisemitism/Islamophobia equivalence:

ℹ️ Pro-Israeli lobby in Australia: on how constricting, perpetuating and long standing the influence is in Australia, click here

---

Sleekit Scotsman ☮️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Social Media

Sleekit Scotsman ☮️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 also publishes on a number of social media channels - please also consider subscribing to these:

• ✍️ Substack SleekitScotsman: this publication

• 📺 YouTube @SleekitScotsman : https://www.youtube.com/@SleekitScotsman

• 👤 Facebook @sleekit.scotsman2 : https://www.facebook.com/sleekit.scotsman2

• 🆇 X (formerly Twitter) @SleekitScotsman : https://twitter.com/SleekitScotsman

• 📸 Instagram: @sleekit.scotsman https://www.instagram.com/sleekit.scotsman/

• 🎶 TikTok: @sleekit.scotsman https://www.tiktok.com/@sleekit.scotsman

Central landing page to all of the above: 🔗🌳 https://linktr.ee/sleekitscotsman

Thanks for reading Sleekit Scotsman ☮️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.