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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.
Mass Walkout at ACU Graduation After Former Union Leader Condemns Abortion
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
Naziya Alvi Rahman
Naziya Alvi Rahman
10/22/2024|Updated: 10/22/2024
0:00

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.

Naziya Alvi Rahman
Naziya Alvi Rahman
Author
Naziya Alvi Rahman is a Canberra-based journalist who covers political issues in Australia. She can be reached at [email protected].
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Related Topics
MELBOURNE
abortion ban
same sex marriage bill
Joe De Bruyn
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