Victoria Minister for Environment and Climate Change Ryan Smith

Statement From The Minister For Environment And Climate Change Ryan Smith

Victor P Taffa

A report in today’s Sunday Age “Government blackmailed university” is inaccurate and misleading.

The Sunday Age has misrepresented and taken out of context comments by a Departmental Officer. As a result, the report is neither a complete nor accurate account of the circumstances.

The Government rejects the interpretation by the Sunday Age of a selectively edited section of one email in an exchange of many emails and conversations.

The Baillieu Government stresses its strong commitment to academic freedom and its strong support for the University of Melbourne and other academic institutions in Victoria.