Panel discussion on gagging of education professionals

Panel discussion on gagging of education, science and medical professionals

10 August 2016

The growing pressure on professionals such as teachers, scientists and doctors to ”tow the party line” is being discussed at forums in Auckland tomorrow and Wellington on Friday.

NZEI Te Riu Roa has brought together a group of medical, scientific and teaching professionals to discuss the importance of being able to speak out on behalf of patients, children, asylum seekers and other vulnerable groups.

Deputy Principal and Queensland Teachers’ Union representative Jessica Walker will be joining outspoken professionals from New Zealand to talk about the rights and responsibilities of professionals to speak out on issues affecting key issues such as human rights, equity and the environment.

“We’ve seen a number of cases in recent times where there have been very real attempts to muzzle professionals when findings have not supported government policy”, said NZEI National President Louise Green.

This has been obvious in the scientific community where a large number of projects and research areas are reliant on government or corporate funding.

As a teacher, Jessica Walker has been outspoken in supporting refugee or asylum-seeking students, despite legislation such as the Border Force Act that prohibits workers from speaking out about atrocities in detention centres in Australia.

Professionals in Australia, including doctors, have been prepared to flout this law and are now challenging it in the High Court.

“Any attempt to gag professionals erodes our democracy and means that the public misses out on important information,” said Ms Green.

“It is vitally important that we remain vigilant and do not allow the rights and responsibilities of professionals to be undermined.”

Journalists and the public are welcome to attend the discussions:

Science Centre 303-102 MLT2, 38 Princes St, City Campus, University of Auckland , 11 August 5pm-7pm

St Johns Church, Willis St, Wellington, 12 August 4.30-7pm.

Bios for Auckland speakers
Bios for Wellington speakers

ENDS

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