Lofty notions of free enquiry, open debate and tolerance are paid no shortage of lip service in Australian universities. In practice, however, the commitment of many of our premier institutions of higher learning to these much-vaunted ideals is fair-weather at best.

Last week the Vice Chancellor of the University of Queensland sent out an outrageous email to staff and students purporting to condemn President Donald Trump on behalf of the university for his moratorium on immigration from certain war-torn countries in the Middle East.