"Appalled" by One Nation letter
It would be an understatement to say that I was appalled by the letter issued by the Vice-Chancellor's office on June 22 implying that the One Nation Party was racist and stating, inter alia, "The policies and principles espoused by the One Nation Party are certainly not acceptable in Australia's tertiary institutions." This statement indicated a disregard for the truth, an unawareness of the dignified impartiality required of a vice-chancellor and an ignorance of the best traditions of universities which permit the expression of all opinions. Unlike many critics of Pauline Hanson, I have taken the trouble to research the nature of the One Nation Party - examining all available press reports, reading One Nation's own literature and interviewing members of the Party including, briefly, Pauline Hanson herself. In the light of all the information that I had gathered before interviewing Ms Hanson, I had no hesitation in accepting her assurance that, not only was One Nation not a racist party, but that its policy was actually anti-racist, advocating that all Australians should be dealt with by governments without regard to race. There is a place in universities for the supporters of all ideas. I am not sure that there is a place for a vice-chancellor who has little respect for our best traditions. John F Kerr OBE BA(Hons) Holder ACT