The Government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic compromised speech rights, especially in healthcare, academia, and education. The Free Speech Union has submitted to the Phase 2 of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCOI) into the Government's response to the Covid-19 pandemic as speech rights are cornerstone to ensuring transparency and trust in public institutions, says Stephanie Martin, the Free Speech Union’s Stakeholder Relationship Manager.

“We submitted to ensure to ensure the Royal Commission recognises the significant chilling effect that aspects of the Government response had on open debate, professional dissent, and academic freedom in New Zealand. Our concerns include the suppression of dissent, mandates and speech, one-way communication, and behavioural messaging vs. informed dialogue.

“Our professional memberships, such as healthcare professionals, academics, and teachers, enabled us to highlight specific areas where speech rights were directly affected and collate feedback from members of our industry-specific members and Councils. Their stories provide evidence of the ways many professionals were silenced, and sometimes faced severe consequences, for expressing views that differed from the Government’s.

“Members expressed the lasting effects this had on their trust and confidence in Government, professionals, and regulatory bodies such as the Medical Council. This is in line with cases where the Free Speech Union is currently defending the speech rights of healthcare professionals who are under fire from regulatory bodies for expressing certain views online about Covid-19, mandates, and vaccines.

“Suppressing legitimate questions and professional judgments ultimately undermines public trust and weakens democratic institutions.”

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