The shadow education minister has likened the public support of the voice to parliament in the schooling sector to a form of “indoctrination”.
In her first major address since taking over the platform from Alan Tudge 11 days ago, Sarah Henderson urged educational institutions against publicly supporting the yes movement ahead of the referendum.
“Last week in Senate estimates … I reiterated that classrooms are for education not indoctrination. So many Australian parents share this view,” she told a Universities Australia conference in Canberra.
“There is no room for activism, campaigning or personal agendas in Australian educational institutions.”
Henderson said it was “right and proper” that Universities Australia, the peak body representing the sector, hadn’t taken a position on whether to support the establishment of a First Nations voice.
“Whilst not stifling robust debate and the expression of strong and legitimately held views, this position is entirely consistent with academic freedom,” she said.
Henderson said she was “concerned” about reports on the debate in schools, arguing its public backing wasn’t “consistent” with the national curriculum.
“It compromises the vital role that fostering curiosity and critical thinking plays in the development of every child,” Henderson said.
A Victorian department of education policy promotes the Indigenous voice to parliament as part of the state’s journey to treaty.
Speaking at the same conference on Wednesday, David Lloyd, vice-chancellor of the University of South Australia, said as a nation Australia “cannot afford to squander” the opportunity of the voice.
Prof Megan Davis, the conference’s keynote speaker and an expert adviser to the government on the referendum, echoed his call.
The pro vice-chancellor Indigenous at UNSW said that it was the “role of universities” to support the voice campaign.
“I don’t really stomach that we are mere facilitators of the debate … universities say 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,” she said.
“Silence is political. We have strong positions on freedom of speech which is political.”
UNSW is among the University of Wollongong, the University of Swinburne and Curtin University to have pledged public support of the voice.
In a statement released last week, Prof Attila Brungs, vice-chancellor and president of UNSW, said he was proud to affirm support for the Uluru statement from the heart, and its call for a First Nations voice to parliament.
The UoW’s vice-chancellor professor Patricia Davidson, who also allowed staff to abstain from the 26 January public holiday this year, said the voice was “fundamental” to truth-telling and reconciliation.
Universities Australia said it welcomed the referendum based on the principle of “providing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians with a stronger say on legislation and policy that impact Indigenous communities and quality of life”, while falling short of publicly backing the yes campaign.
“Our commitment to the work required to achieve fairness and social justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples will continue beyond, but be informed by, the discussions surrounding the constitutional reform”, it said in a statement.
Prof Brian Schmidt, vice-chancellor of Australian National University, said the university was “dedicated to promoting debate and discussions” around the voice to parliament.
“I personally believe the voice was persuasively argued for within the Uluru statement of the heart and I have not yet heard a compelling reason not to support it.”
The University of Queensland has supported the Uluru statement from the heart as part of its reconciliation plan while noting “crucial details” of the voice and treaty are the subject of “continuing consultations”.
La Trobe University is currently in discussion with members of its Indigenous communities on the voice and confirmed it would share its official position shortly, as did the University of Sydney (UoS).
“We are … considering our institutional position, in consultation with our community,” a UoS spokesperson said.
“As a public university, throughout our history we have served as a forum for debate on wider political issues rather than to act as a participant in those debates.”
Gary Thomas, pro vice chancellor Indigenous education at RMIT, encouraged its community to be “well informed” while understanding there were “differing opinions”, while the University of Western Australia also withheld from a formal position.
A University of Melbourne spokesperson said it would “lead and sponsor the exploration and discussion” of constitutional reform in the coming months.
