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• Free Speech

Freedom of speech is a crucial principle of a liberal democracy that supports the freedom of an individual or a community to articulate their opinions and ideas without fear of retaliation, censorship, or legal sanction.

How Woke Won - Joanna Williams - review
How Woke Won: book review
Peter KurtiSeptember 18, 2022QUADRANT

HOW WOKE WON: The Elitist Movement that Threatens Democracy, Tolerance and Reason. Joanna Williams, (London:...

Gay-pride-jersey
Gay-pride jersey paradox: enforcing ‘tolerance’ and ‘diversity’ is simply intolerant and divisive
Tom Switzer, Peter KurtiJuly 29, 2022SYDNEY MORNING HERALD

Rugby league is one of Australia’s great spectator sports, and for spectators the game offers...

The Eclipse of Reason: The Real Crisis in the West
Peter Kurti, Melanie PhillipsFebruary 10, 2022

On Tuesday, December 7 we hosted our final webinar of 2021. CIS culture program director,...

Schools producing woke sense and sensibilities
Glenn Fahey, Tanveer Ahmed, Claire FoxAugust 24, 2021

Schools and universities have become preoccupied with cushioning students’ experiences, rather than challenging them. The...

Where the Woke Things Are
Monica Wilkie, Lionel Shriver, Brendan O'NeillJuly 22, 2021

Although many thought the pandemic would be over by now, COVID-19 continues to rage across...

Cancel Culture Crusades
Monica Wilkie, Peter Kurti, Claire LehmannApril 11, 2021

Many cultural forces continue to weed out books, tear down statues and shame celebrities, who...

University Freedom Charters: How best to protect free speech on Australian campuses
Jeremy SammutOctober 7, 2018PP10

This POLICY Paper recommends how and why a ‘university freedom charters’ policy that is backed...

Conflict vs Mistake: Academic cultures and explanatory conflict
Claire LehmannSeptember 11, 2018OP167

The 2018 Helen Hughes Lecture explains why and how universities are fuelling the corrosive identity...

Let Money Speak
Simon CowanApril 25, 2018PP2

The government’s proposal to ban foreign donations and limit political contributions from charities is a...

What’s happened to the University?
Frank Furedi, Marguerite Johnson, Steven SchwartzFebruary 5, 2018OP163

Trigger warnings, cultural appropriation and safe spaces. Who decided to bestow guardian status to Australian...

Liberty and Surveillance: What should governments and private corporations know about you?
Tom SimpsonJanuary 30, 2018OP162

Whistleblower Edward Snowden revealed that the NSA hacked the internet as a key part of...

The Limits of Australian Anti-discrimination Law
Helen AndrewsAugust 3, 2016Research Report 17

Anti-discrimination law has existed in Australia for only fifty years, and yet in that comparatively...

Social media doesn’t equal votes
Monica WilkieMay 24, 2019Ideas@TheCentre

The impact of social media on politics is a contentious topic. Some argue social media...

Something amiss in live-and-let-live Australia
Peter KurtiMay 10, 2019AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW

Found guilty of a serious breach of his contract with Rugby Australia (RA), Israel Folau...

Folau free speech debate: both sides need to show tolerance
Simon Cowan, Monica WilkieApril 21, 2019CANBERRA TIMES

It will be deeply ironic if rugby union star Israel Folau is fired for condemning...

Left must stop crucifying voices of dissent
Peter KurtiApril 18, 2019The Daily Telegraph

Easter is the perfect time for protest and dissent. It’s when Christians celebrate the resurrection...

Israel Folau and the tyranny of tolerance
Peter KurtiApril 18, 2019SPECTATOR FLAT WHITE

Rugby Australia’s attempt to remove Israel Folau from the game is now being presented as...

Hard won is easily lost
April PalmerleeApril 18, 2006The Courier Mail

From Beirut to Baghdad , the streets are overflowing with calls for freedom and liberty,...

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Submission to the Senate Inquiry on Information Integrity
Michael StutchburySeptember 12, 2025

On behalf of the Centre for Independent Studies (CIS), we are pleased to provide the...

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