This revised Charter was developed in response to an independent review of freedom of speech in Australian higher education providers, commissioned by the federal government and conducted by former High Court Chief Justice, the Hon. Robert French AC.

The focus of laws against secondary boycotts has never been against consumer groups or movements involving non-employees. There’s an obvious and good reason for this.

The report outlines how former Chief Justice, the Hon Robert French’s model code for the protection of freedom of speech and academic freedom can be adopted by the University of Sydney by amending its current Charter of Academic Freedom.

This report provides analysis of the global operations of Chinese company, Global Tone Communications Technology Co. Ltd (GTCOM), which is a subsidiary of an SOE supervised directly by China’s Central Propaganda Department. GTCOM is responsible for identifying 'risks to state security' - a concept that...

This report, submitted to the Australian Senate inquiry into nationhood, national identity and democracy, contributes to the current debate about the role of national identity and international cooperation in Australian politics by placing Australia’s national values in their historic context, and arguing for their continued...

As Australia is compelled to engage with a more confrontational China, there’s a risk that political commentary and media reporting on Chinese influence and interference operations in Australia could affect Chinese-Australian communities adversely. This briefing paper offers some constructive suggestions to address the issue.

Innovative Research Universities (IRU) has submitted this response to the Australian government’s draft Religious Discrimination Bill 2019, which sets out to further protect and better promote freedom of religion.

The John Bonython Lecture is the annual gala event for the Centre for Independent Studies. Award winning American author and opinion writer, Lionel Shriver, delivered this year’s lecture. She eviscerated the modern-day obsession with identity politics, political correctness and the hypersensitivities of the #MeToo movement...

This paper examines the history of how Australia’s vilification laws were formed, focusing on both domestic and international changes towards laws restricting speech. It also argues that any amendments to vilification laws should be done at the state and territory level, and should be based...

The Australian government believes that fostering a positive security culture, through a principles-based approach to risk management, can help to ensure the university sector continues to produce world-class research, while protecting academic freedom and minimising risks.

We have a serious deficit in legal protection for human rights in Australia, rights that have been in regression for 20 years. We need a legislated charter setting out the rights we care about, writes Gillian Triggs.

The rise of China has helped make Australia rich, but it is also posing challenges to its values, interests, alliances and thus its identity. This paper argues that Australia's approach should include a shift towards a much better understanding of contemporary China, as well as...

Corruption is hindering Africa’s economic, political and social development. It is a major barrier to economic growth, good governance and basic freedoms, such as freedom of speech or citizens’ right to hold governments to account. More than this, corruption affects the wellbeing of individuals, families...

This report examines some of the perceived problems associated with the reconciling of the exercise of freedom of religion with other human rights. It considers solutions and legislative reforms.

This report examines the scope and experience of freedom of speech in Australian universities. The review proposes a model voluntary code of conduct and some modifications to the Higher Education Support Act and related Higher Education Standards.

An alarming global trend has surfaced in which states are introducing and using laws to interfere with the right to freedom of association and to hamper the work of civil society organizations and individuals who participate in them. This report shows how this phenomenon is...

In 2018, Freedom in the World recorded the 13th consecutive year of decline in global freedom. The reversal has spanned a variety of countries in every region, from long-standing democracies like the United States to consolidated authoritarian regimes like China and Russia. The pattern is...

This report argues that concerned countries should press Myanmar to protect the rights to expression and assembly, and reform laws penalizing peaceful speech, to bring them back into line with international standards.

The unexplained detention of author and diplomat, Yang Hengjun, has raised more questions about the motives of a Chinese government under stress from within and without.

The IPA's audit of academic freedom pits people either for or against universities. This prevents us from having thorough conversations about real threats to academic freedom.