Universities silent on ‘free speech’

‘No boy. These mob got no love in them.’ – Macow in The Kadaitcha Sung – A novel by Sam Watson Penguin Books (1990)

While universities remain focussed on ‘anti-semitism‘, they are refusing to acknowledge Israel’s genocide and ethnic cleansing in Palestine and Lebanon. Meanwhile the state government has become obsessed with words and language. It has prohibited the use of 6 words about bodies of water ████████████████████ [Redacted under Queensland Government directive (2026).] Universities continue to adhere to the settler colonialist narrative. Notwithstanding, in 2020, campus names in Townsville (sic) were changed to mark the fact that JCU is built on stolen land never ceded: Townsville (Douglas) campus to Bebegu Yumba, Cairns (Smithfield) Nguma-bada, Cairns City Bada-jali, Mount Isa Murtupuni, Mackay Ngudya Yamba. [Pls Note: Generations of this editors family is from far-north Queensland].

So the state government has stepped in and stacked the board of the University to prevent a name change from James Cook University to an appropriate aboriginal name.

Meanwhile at UQ, the senate has ignored the state government’s attack on free speech and is still talking up the zionist narrative reflected in Lee Duffield’s report:

“Antisemitism. Similar protocols to GBV apply to new regulations patrolling antisemitism on campuses, set up following the October 2023 terrorist attack across Israel’s border (sic), commencement of the Israeli “counter-attack” against Gaza, and a wave of protests and occupations on campuses under the Palestinian flag. Also at the end of 2025 the federal government Antisemitism Education Taskforce was formed, headed by the businessman and University of NSW Chancellor David Gonski, and including the national Special Envoy on Antisemitism Jillian Segal, plus representatives of 13 peak bodies across the education system. 

Not there to investigate the universities, its mandate is to “consider actions to help the Australian education system prevent, tackle and properly respond to antisemitism.” 

Problems exist with the definition employed, the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition, which comes with a set of “examples” that allow criticism of Israel or its government to be put in the “anti-semite” category.  The universities have collectively approved a different definition, in terms much the same as IHRA but without the “examples”.

It cites “discrimination, prejudice, harassment, exclusion, vilification, intimidation or violence that impedes Jews’ ability to participate as equals in educational, political, religious, cultural, economic or social life. It can manifest in a range of ways including negative, dehumanising, or stereotypical narratives about Jews.

Further, it includes hate speech, epithets, caricatures, stereotypes, tropes, Holocaust denial, and antisemitic symbols. Targeting Jews based on their Jewish identities alone is discriminatory and antisemitic.” – Report from Lee Duffield, Member of UQ Senate elected by graduates of the university.

There will come a time when the University will no longer be able to stick its head into the sand. By then of course the University senate will have always been against the genocide.

The Book That Was Pulped

UQP has trashed “Bila, a river cycle“ an Indigenous children’s book by Wiradjuri poet Jazz Money, illustrated by Matt Chun . The publisher decided to pulp all 5,000 already-printed copies and cancel its release, which was scheduled for the end of June 2026 .

UQP backed by the University stated the cancellation was due to past comments made by the illustrator, Matt Chun. In an online essay, Chun referred to victims of the 2025 Bondi Beach terror attack as “affluent beneficiaries and perpetrators of imperialism” and “white, Jewish settler” victims, statements the university determined did not align with its policies on antisemitism . The university confirmed that the book’s text and illustrations were not the issue. [Please note that WBT does not agree with Matt Chun’s analysis of an ISIS inspired attack on people attending a much politicised Hanukkah event on Bondi beach. You do not end a genocide by shooting 10 year old kids.] But that is no reason for UQP to start burning books!

✍️ Authors Who Ended Their Relationship with UQP

In response to UQP’s decision, several authors announced they would no longer publish with the press. This action was a voluntary boycott to protest the publisher’s move, not because their own books were destroyed.

The authors who stated they would terminate contracts or refuse future publications with UQP include:

• Evelyn Araluen: The Stella Prize winner said she was terminating “any further projects and contracts” with UQP .
• Randa Abdel-Fattah: She stated her upcoming book would be her “first and last” with UQP .
• Melissa Lucashenko: The multi-award-winning author said she was seeking legal advice about her forthcoming book with UQP .
• Omar Sakr: The poet also announced he would stop publishing with UQP .
• Natalia Figueroa Barroso: She announced her decision on social media, saying she was “trembling with indignation” about the decision .
• Sara Haddad: She stated she could not be in a future partnership with an organisation that “goes against everything my books stand for” .
• Sara M. Saleh and Tony Birch were also among the more than 30 UQP authors who signed a letter urging the publisher to release the book .

The author Jazz Money, whose book was pulped, also stated her relationship with UQP was “now over” .

WBT asks why this attack on freedom of speech has not been debated in the University Senate? And if it has been behind closed doors why it has not been reported?

In the evening the dry wind blows from the hills and across the plains
I close my eyes and I’m standing in a boat on the sea a-gain
And I’m holding that long turtle spear and I feel I’m close now
To where it must be and my island home is waiting for me
And my island home my island home my island home is waiting for me
– My Island Home, The Warumpi Band

Ian Curr
21 April 2026