Edith Cowan University revokes honorary doctorate amid pressure from Busselton Pride Alliance

Mr House received the award from the university in March 2021 to acknowledge over 30 years of contribution and service to the South West through his work as a Member of Parliament.

Public criticism from community groups such as the Busselton Pride Alliance Incorporated followed, noting comments made by Mr House in parliament in the past in regards to the LGBTQI+ community.

In a letter university students received from Edith Cowan University's Vice Chancellor Professor Steve Chapman on July 20, it was revealed after the University's Council had 'lengthy deliberations' over the conferral of the honorary doctorate to Mr House, the council decided to revoke the award.

"We pride ourselves on being an inclusive community which actively supports equality and diversity. This decision reflects council's determination to ensure all staff and students, including members of the LGBTIQ+ community, feel valued and respected," Prof Chapman said.

According to the Busselton Pride Alliance, comments made in the past by Mr House that were deemed 'incompatible' with the values of Edith Cowan University included voting to jail all homosexual males for up to 14 years, opposing equal opportunities for LGBTQI+ people in employment in housing, claiming that children were 'damaged' if raised in same-sex relationships and claiming that homosexuality 'isn't normal and never will be'.

Mr House said he was saddened and annoyed at Edith Cowan University's decision to revoke his honorary doctorate.

"Like many people, my views have changed dramatically on a range of issues over the years, along with legislation and community attitudes. I welcome the fact that we live in an inclusive society and I regret that my past comments, when taken out of context, still cause hurt to some people in the LGBTIQ+ community," Mr House said.

"If I was still in public life of course I would modify my words and the way I would consider legislative proposals. But no one should ever have to apologise for having a different opinion to some others in our free democratic society and be vilified for it. This is un-Australian!"

Busselton Pride Alliance welcomed the decision by the university to revoke the award from Mr House after the Alliance had 'raised it's concerns' about the award since March.

Busselton Pride Alliance spokesperson Clare Paine said the Alliance had both written to and offered to meet with Mr House to discuss the comments he had made but he 'did not take up that offer'.

"We wrote to Mr House in May asking if his views had changed over the years and if he now recognised the harm caused by homophobia and would apologise for his contribution to that harm, but he did not respond in a way that recognised this," Ms Paine said.

"The award did not sit well with Edith Cowan University's policies on equity and inclusion. And while ECU has made the right decision, it is disappointing that it had come to this."

Ms Paine encouraged the university to review its honorary awards system and to consider the involvement of 'Pride@ECU' in helping qualify applicants to uphold the university's policies on equity and inclusion.

The decision to revoke Barry House's award came just days before members of various LGBTQI+ communities planned to protest at Bunbury's Edith Cowan University campus on July 22 and the Mount Lawley campus on July 23.

"By giving in to the request of a small minority group which has bullied the university into a position of appeasement, ECU has ignored the reasons the award was conferred in the first place along with my assurances of commitment to ECU's principles and values," Mr House said.