The Education Department has attempted to gag parent educator Steve Biddulph from talking about school starting ages during a planned appearance in Tasmania this week.
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Mr Biddulph said he received a “shock” contract in the mail ahead of the event requiring him to sign an agreement not to discuss “any topic that could be perceived as political or partisan”.
“I asked what this meant and was told, in writing, that it meant that I was not to discuss school starting age or related issues during my presentation. It was a legal and binding commitment.”
Acting Education Minister Vanessa Goodwin said the department had since withdrawn the clause from the contract and apologised.
Mr Biddulph was due to speak at the Building Brighter, Stronger Families Program at LINC Devonport on Saturday along with Maggie Dent and Mem Fox.
“I had not intended to discuss the intense controversy that has arisen over school starting age in my two presentations, but it can still come up, and if asked, of course, professionally and ethically I am bound to speak the truth about the research picture on this subject,” he wrote in a post on Facebook.
Opposition education spokeswoman Michelle O’Byrne said it was clear someone was trying to silence Mr Bidduph.
"This is extraordinary treatment of a respected expert on education. To order a speaker not to make comments on a current issue is something out of a dictatorship.”
Ms Goodwin said the government “absolutely supports free speech and the right of anyone – including Mr Biddulph – to have their say about our plan to lower the voluntary starting age”.
“This action was unacceptable and I understand that the clause in question was withdrawn from the contract, and that the Education Department has apologised to Mr Biddulph for what occurred.”
