New venue for Peter Singer talk

The philosopher Peter Singer has found a new venue to speak at after earlier having a speaking slot cancelled because of his controversial views about disabled babies.

Auckland’s SkyCity last week pulled the plug on a planned June 14 appearance by Professor Singer after activists said they would protest at the talk.

Singer’s tour was focused on his non-profit organisation, The Life You Can Save, with proceeds going to support it.

But activists attacked his belief that parents of severely disabled babies should be allowed to ask doctors to euthanise them.

SkyCity last week said, “Some of the themes promoted by this speaker do not reflect our values of diversity and inclusivity.”

However, Trusts Arena this week allowed Singer to instead use its Te Atatu venue, saying it would be a breach of freedom of speech not to do so.

“Allowing Singer to speak at the Trusts Arena would be consistent with this part of the Bill of Rights. Arguably, refusing him permission to speak would breach it,” it said.

SkyCity’s cancellation of Singer’s talk earlier had echoes of the Auckland Council’s refusal in 2018 to allow its venues to be used by alt-right Canadian speakers Stefan Molyneux and Lauren Southern.

Singer’s promoter had argued that he was a respected academic, and perhaps the most widely read modern philosopher in the world.

The Australian academic said he had been “welcomed” as a speaker in New Zealand many times before.