Student Spying Alleged

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31662, 24 April 1968, Page 17

Student Spying Alleged

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) SYDNEY, April 23. Sydney University students on the payroll of the Association of Security Intelligence Officers are “spying” on fellow-students and staff, according to the university newspaper, “Honi Soit.”

The writers of the article, Russell Darnley and Rowan Cahill, claim that every university in Australia has a group of students on the association’s payroll. They say the informers report to the A. 5.1.0. any person believed to be involved in "subversive activities.” In the article, the president of the students’ representative council (Mr Alan Cameron) is quoted as saying: “In some cases a student’s future is being ruined.” The article says: “In many cases the dossier information is misleading and often incorrect.

“It is known that all senior employees of the Commonwealth Public Service are investigated before employment, and that transfers and dismissals occur as a result of unfavourable security reports. “Because of recent student demonstrations, universities are under greater surveillance.” "Honi Soit” says the University of N.S.W. magazine, “Tharunka,” published a letter recently from a student who claimed he was a paid

undergraduate A. 5.1.0. agent in 1965.

“The general assignment was that I was to report on labour club meetings,” the student wrote. “The things required were the speakers’ names, the content, of the talks, the questions asked and the names of the questioners, and, more generally, the names of people who attended . . ,” “Honi Soit” adds: "In February, 1966, the student claimed he resigned as informant when he realised that bis reporting on students both offended the principles of free academic inquiry and could do harm to a student’s future career.” Mr Cameron said today: “We have evidence that these activities have been going on within Sydney University.” •

Algerian Decree.—Algerian males reaching the age of 19 will be called up for two years compulsory military service under a newly-pub-lished Government decree. While in the Army the recruits will have to carry out civil or military tasks.— Algiers, April 23.