ACU Offers $165 Ticket Refunds After Speaker’s Anti-LGBT Anti-Abortion Remarks
Image: Joe de Bruyn, former national President of the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association. Image: Campion College.
The Australian Catholic University (ACU) announced they will reimburse graduation fees to students involved in the mass walkout because of former union boss Joe de Bruyn’s remarks against abortion and gay marriage.
On Tuesday, following the outrage from students and nearly everyone on the internet, ACU Vice-Chancellor and President Zlatko Skrbis addressed the debacle in an apologetic email to all students.聽
ACU shows regret for students distress and offers reimbursement
聽In his email, vice-chancellor Skrbis expressed remorse for 鈥榙istress caused鈥�, offering a full refund of the graduation fees, and confidential counselling services to teachers and students.
The refunds include guest tickets, dress for hire & attendance fees which amount to $165.
ACU recognises distress caused, but continues to defend ‘free speech’聽
Despite his concern for students that were impacted, Skrbis defended de Bruyn鈥檚 right to express his personal beliefs as it infringes on their values of free speech.聽
A statement released by the university found that they were already aware of De Bruyn鈥檚 divisive address. Although they did 鈥榚ncourage de Bruyn to reconsider his speech from the view of the graduating students鈥� achievements and hopes鈥�
鈥淭he university was aware that Mr. De Bruyn planned to speak about a number of polarising issues in his occasional address and asked him to consider a speech that was better aligned to the occasion and more directly celebrated the achievements of our students,鈥� they said.
鈥淲e are deeply disappointed that the speech was not more befitting of a graduation ceremony. We do not censor our speakers but recognise that the content of Mr. De Bruyn鈥檚 address caused distress and offence to many in the audience.鈥�
ACU Student Associations condemn the university for allowing the ‘degrading’ address
Following ACU鈥檚 intial response, various associations from the Melbourne university (ACU National Student Association, the ACU LGBTIQ+ Staff Ally Network, The Melbourne LGBTIQ+ Society and The St Patrick鈥檚 Student Association)聽 for allowing de Bruyn鈥檚 鈥渄eeply degrading and dehumanising鈥� address.
De Bruyn shows no regret in response to backlash聽
In response to his controversial speech, de Bruyn remains unapologetic.
鈥淗ere I am, a Catholic layman being offered by ACU an award for my services to the Catholic church,鈥� he said.
鈥淚f I can鈥檛 talk about issues that have confronted me in my professional life that I tried to deal with consistent with my Catholic beliefs, then what am I getting an award for?” he . “I thought it was fair and sensible.鈥澛�
The former union boss also confirmed the university advised him it would be 鈥渨ise to make some changes鈥� to his speech, because he would have a “diverse audience”.
ACU cannot simply hide behind the shield of free speech to justify this. The idea of free speech is to enable robust, respectful dialogue鈥攄ialogue that doesn鈥檛 question the very existence or dignity of people based on their gender, sexuality, or reproductive choices. When free speech becomes a platform for hate, it ceases to be about intellectual freedom and starts becoming an act of harm.