The French review on campus free speech is with the government.

Last November Education Minister Dan Tehan commissioned to review, “rules and regulations protecting freedom of speech on university campuses.”

Mr French, is UWA chancellor a former chief justice of the High Court. He provided an indication of his approach in a considered paper co-authored with UWA VC Dawn Freshwater (CMM August 20) after a campus dispute.  Close observers suggest his review has a similar tone to that and is closely argued and respectful of university autonomy.

The minister’s response when it is released will be instructive. In announcing Mr French’s review Minster Tehan suggested, it “could lead to the development of an Australian version of the ‘Chicago Statement’, which, “clearly sets out a university’s commitment to promoting freedom of speech.” And in November he did not rule out imposing a code on universities. When Radio National’s Fran Kelly asked Mr Tehan, “if the French Review does find there should be some kind of code, if the universities don’t enforce it, would their funding be under threat, what would be on the table here?,” he  replied, “well let’s just let the former chief justice do his work and see what he comes up with.”