Mass Walkout at ACU Graduation After Former Union Leader Condemns Abortion

Former union leader Joe De Bruyn’s honorary degree speech on abortion and same-sex marriage ignited outrage, prompting a mass walkout at ACU.

Pro-life supporters take part in a "Rally for Life" march and celebration outside the Texas State Capitol in Austin on Jan. 27, 2024. Suzanne Cordeiro/AFP via Getty Images

A graduation ceremony at the Australian Catholic University (ACU) in Melbourne took an unexpected turn last night when hundreds of students, parents, and staff walked out in protest in response to a speech by former union leader Joe De Bruyn.

De Bruyn, the former national secretary of the conservative Shop, Distributive, and Allied Employees Association (SDA), was awarded an honorary degree for his contributions to workers’ rights and social welfare.

However, during his speech, De Bruyn veered into topics such as his opposition to same-sex marriage and abortion, which led to to a mass exodus from the venue.

“I have for several decades been involved in opposing abortion, the deliberate killing of unborn human beings,” he told the crowd, in comments obtained by media outlets.

“Today, over 80,000 unborn children are killed by abortion in Australia each year, worldwide the estimated number is 42 million each year.

“Abortion is the single biggest killer of human beings in the world, greater than the human toll of World War II. It is a tragedy that must be ended.”

The Ceremony and the Unexpected Turn

Charlie Panteli, a graduate receiving a Bachelor of Primary Education, was one of the first to walk out in protest and spoke to ABC Radio about the incident.

Panteli described how De Bruyn’s speech quickly shifted from discussing his career achievements to his personal stance on social issues.

“He started talking about how abortion was wrong. It was shocking,” he told ABC Melbourne.

Panteli, who sat near the front, signalled to others that he was leaving.

“I only heard the part about abortion, and I was one of the first to get up. I spun my hand around, said, ‘This is enough,’ and left.”

According to him, soon, nearly 95 percent of the audience left the venue in solidarity. Photos taken after the event showed rows of empty seats, with only a few attendees remaining—many of whom were reportedly filming the incident.

Faculty members, seated towards the back of the room, were visibly surprised by the content of the speech.

ACU Encourages Open Debate on Ideas

Following the ceremony, the Australian Catholic University released a statement.

The university expressed regret that the event had not been a positive experience for many graduates and their families.

“Mr. De Bruyn’s remarks at the ceremony were delivered in a personal capacity,” the statement read.

“While his views may not be shared by many of our staff and students, as a university, we encourage the respectful exchange of ideas that represent the wide spectrum of our diverse community.”

The spokesperson added that the university understands that staff, graduates, and their families disagreed with the content of De Bruyn’s speech.

“As a university we’re committed to open, respectful dialogue. We always encourage people to present their views and beliefs while also being respectful to those who hold a contrary view.

“ACU is committed to providing a safe, inclusive and respectful environment for students and staff of all beliefs. Education, faith, respect and acceptance are at the heart of our mission as a Catholic university.”

However, Panteli felt the university’s response was insufficient.

“We’ve received no support. I would like the university to come out publicly and say that they don’t hold these views. They market themselves as an inclusive university, but giving this person an honorary doctorate is appalling.”

In response, De Bruyn said his views were not remarkable given they were delivered at a Catholic institution.

“My views are not peculiar views, they may not have majority support, but they are the views of the Catholic Church,” he told The Age. “I thought it was an entirely appropriate venue.”

SDA’s History Against Communism, Socialism

The SDA maintains its strong conservative and Catholic roots, despite the increasing influence of progressive unions within the Labor Party.

De Bruyn notably led the SDA in its campaign against communism in the 1980s, supporting the Polish movement Solidarity against its leadership and the Soviet Union. De Bruyn would later receive an award from the Polish president in 2015.

The SDA was also instrumental in the 1955 Labor Party split in response to communist infiltration of its ranks.

The historic feminist movements—which paved the way for abortion rights—often overlapped with communist movements, as both aimed to overturn traditional views on marriage and family, while weakening the fabric of Christian-based societies.

“[Second wave American feminist Betty] Friedan fiercely criticised the traditional familial roles of women and argued that the classic image of a content and joyful housewife was a myth forged by a patriarchal society,” according to The Epoch Times’ series, “How the Specter of Communism is Ruling Our World.”

“In fact, Friedan, under her maiden name Betty Goldstein, had been a radical socialist activist from her college years up to the 1950s. While at the University of California–Berkeley, Friedan was a member of the Young Communist League and even requested, twice, to join the Communist Party USA.”