ACU staff member devastated by graduation speech - ABC listen

Students, teachers and family members walked out of an address at an Australian Catholic University graduation ceremony.

While accepting an honorary doctorate, former national president of the Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Association Joe de Bruyn spoke of his anti-abortion and anti-same-sex marriage views.

ACU staff member Jamie attended the graduation ceremony and told ABC Melbourne's Drive program: "I don't think any of us realised just how hostile an environment it would be."

The university initially said the comments were in a personal capacity but they then issued a second statement saying ACU asked the speaker to consider a speech better aligned to the occasion. The university has since released a third statement committing to refunding graduation fees for students in attendance. 

Melbourne, Higher Education, Human Interest, Religious Schools