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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/02/australian-academic-roz-ward-suspended-for-calling-countrys-flag-racist
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| Australian academic Roz Ward suspended for calling country's flag 'racist' | Australian academic Roz Ward suspended for calling country's flag 'racist' |
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| An Australian academic who cofounded a controversial scheme to tackle bullying of LBGTI pupils in schools has been suspended from her university post over a Facebook post criticising the Australian flag as “racist”. | An Australian academic who cofounded a controversial scheme to tackle bullying of LBGTI pupils in schools has been suspended from her university post over a Facebook post criticising the Australian flag as “racist”. |
| Roz Ward posted a picture of the LBGTI flag flying above the Victorian parliament last week with the comment: “Now we just need to get rid of the racist Australian flag on top of the state parliament and get a red one up there and my work is done.” | Roz Ward posted a picture of the LBGTI flag flying above the Victorian parliament last week with the comment: “Now we just need to get rid of the racist Australian flag on top of the state parliament and get a red one up there and my work is done.” |
| A leftwing activist and academic, Ward helped to formulate the Safe Schools program, which aims to reduce bullying against LBGTI students in schools. | A leftwing activist and academic, Ward helped to formulate the Safe Schools program, which aims to reduce bullying against LBGTI students in schools. |
| She resigned from an advisory role with a Victorian government task force shortly afterwards in anticipation of a backlash from media and commentators hostile to the anti-bullying program dubbed “cultural Marxism” by opponents. | She resigned from an advisory role with a Victorian government task force shortly afterwards in anticipation of a backlash from media and commentators hostile to the anti-bullying program dubbed “cultural Marxism” by opponents. |
| Ward was suspended with pay on Wednesday from her job as manager of the Safe Schools program, which is administered by La Trobe University’s sex, health and society research centre. | Ward was suspended with pay on Wednesday from her job as manager of the Safe Schools program, which is administered by La Trobe University’s sex, health and society research centre. |
| A letter given to Ward, excerpts of which were published by New Matilda, argues she breached her employment conditions by undermining public confidence in Safe Schools, damaged its reputation and had drawn colleagues into negative publicity around the program. | A letter given to Ward, excerpts of which were published by New Matilda, argues she breached her employment conditions by undermining public confidence in Safe Schools, damaged its reputation and had drawn colleagues into negative publicity around the program. |
| Ward’s conduct also “required members of the Victorian government to take up their time in defending the Safe Schools program, rather than be positive advocates for the Safe Schools program”, the letter said. | Ward’s conduct also “required members of the Victorian government to take up their time in defending the Safe Schools program, rather than be positive advocates for the Safe Schools program”, the letter said. |
| Related: Safe Schools Coalition co-founder Roz Ward resigns over Facebook post | Related: Safe Schools Coalition co-founder Roz Ward resigns over Facebook post |
| The program has been a target of Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp publications over claims it exposes children to inappropriate sexual material and promotes “cultural Marxism”. | The program has been a target of Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp publications over claims it exposes children to inappropriate sexual material and promotes “cultural Marxism”. |
| The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) condemned La Trobe, arguing the outrage over Ward’s Facebook post was “in reality part of a concerted political and ideological campaign by Australia’s rightwing ideologues”. | The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) condemned La Trobe, arguing the outrage over Ward’s Facebook post was “in reality part of a concerted political and ideological campaign by Australia’s rightwing ideologues”. |
| “The hysterical response to Ms Ward’s private Facebook posting about the Australian flag is typical of the right’s absolute refusal to consider the ways in which racism is expressed, often unconsciously, in symbols, institutions and attitudes. | “The hysterical response to Ms Ward’s private Facebook posting about the Australian flag is typical of the right’s absolute refusal to consider the ways in which racism is expressed, often unconsciously, in symbols, institutions and attitudes. |
| “Whether one agrees or not with Ms Ward’s contention that the flag betrays a racist origin, it is entirely reasonable to make such an argument, and many have done so without fear of having their livelihoods stolen from them,” the union’s Victorian secretary Colin Long said. | “Whether one agrees or not with Ms Ward’s contention that the flag betrays a racist origin, it is entirely reasonable to make such an argument, and many have done so without fear of having their livelihoods stolen from them,” the union’s Victorian secretary Colin Long said. |
| “It is this kind of moral and intellectual cowardice and bullying that underlies the bullying and victimisation of young people of diverse genders and sexualities, against which Roz Ward has dedicated her professional life,” Long said. | “It is this kind of moral and intellectual cowardice and bullying that underlies the bullying and victimisation of young people of diverse genders and sexualities, against which Roz Ward has dedicated her professional life,” Long said. |
| “The NTEU considers that this is discrimination on the basis of political opinion and will be considering all legal avenues of redress.” | “The NTEU considers that this is discrimination on the basis of political opinion and will be considering all legal avenues of redress.” |
| Safe Schools has become controversial among Christian groups and conservative MPs, and was amended by the Turnbull government in March. Among the the changes were sharp reductions in the lesson content and a requirement that students get parental consent before participating. | Safe Schools has become controversial among Christian groups and conservative MPs, and was amended by the Turnbull government in March. Among the the changes were sharp reductions in the lesson content and a requirement that students get parental consent before participating. |
| La Trobe declined to comment on an “ongoing HR matter” but has previously expressed concerns about the impact the Facebook post “could have on the good standing of our researchers in this field and the university takes this very seriously”. | La Trobe declined to comment on an “ongoing HR matter” but has previously expressed concerns about the impact the Facebook post “could have on the good standing of our researchers in this field and the university takes this very seriously”. |
| A Facebook page in support of Ward has been liked by more than 2,000 people and a Change.org petition in favour of re-instating her has more than 1,000 signatures. |