Speaker ban may face test in court

A group including academics and former politicians wants to take an Auckland Council agency to court over its decision to ban two controversial Canadian speakers from speaking at a council venue.

Lauren Southern and Stefan Molyneux were due to speak at Takapuna’s Bruce Mason Theatre next month.

But Auckland Live has cancelled the venue booking.

Auckland Live director Robbie Macrae said security concerns around ‘‘the health and safety of the presenters, staff and patrons’’ had led to the cancellation.

In a tweet, Auckland mayor Phil Goff said venues should not be used to ‘‘stir up ethnic or religious tensions’’.

Yesterday, the Free Speech Coalition announced it would be collecting funds for a judicial review of the decision.

It was hoping to raise $50,000 through its website.

It was supported by former Labour Party minister Dr Michael Bassett, former National Party and ACT leader Dr Don Brash and business leader and Property Institute chief executive Ashley Church. Also in favour was Auckland University senior lecturer Dr David Cumin, Canterbury University academic Melissa Derby, lawyer Stephen Franks, AUT professor Paul Moon, broadcaster Lindsay Perigo, writer Rachel Poulain, political commentator Chris Trotter and Taxpayers’ Union executive director Jordan Williams.

Derby said: ‘‘Standing up for free speech means standing up for speech you and I may personally find repugnant. We do not endorse these particular speakers’ views but the general principle that people should be able to share, and be exposed to, controversial ideas,’’ she said.

‘‘Banning a pair of populists that together have over a million YouTube subscribers sets an extraordinary low bar for state censorship.’’ Ratepayer-funded facilities, she said, should ‘‘operate as common carriers for people of all political views’’. ‘‘They should not discriminate based on the personal views of politicians, nor should their use be subject to the whims of those who would threaten violent protest.’’

The Australian-based promoter of the event said he was working with a group in New Zealand looking at the grounds for the cancellation.

‘‘For the mayor to suddenly have a problem with these speakers, is both exceptional, and we’re looking at whether it is illegal,’’ David Pellowe said.

Trotter said the Free Speech Coalition accepted blocking ‘‘genuine hate speech’’ that incited violence or illegal activity. ‘‘But curbing free debate under threat of disruption is neither desirable nor acceptable in a free and democratic society.’’

Southern’s views on immigration had prompted the New Zealand Federation of Islam Associations to ask the Government to bar her entry to New Zealand.

In March, she was barred from entering the United Kingdom, with a Home Office spokesperson saying her presence in the UK was ‘‘not conducive to the public good’’, international media reported.