Senators have grilled Universities Australia (UA) over a $1.5 million anti-sexual violence campaign.

Reports say that the contentious campaign never saw the light of day.

An official inquiry into consent laws has seen UA face intense scrutiny after it twice declined to appear before the Senate. 

The organisation claimed to have abandoned the campaign after concerns were raised by a small group of vice-chancellors who found it “too explicit”. 

However, reports exposed the real reason: the campaign's lack of impact.

The $1.5 million grant from the Coalition government in 2021 was meant to develop a campaign designed in collaboration with students and experts. 

However, the result was a 46-page good practice report targeted at “primary prevention practitioners”. 

Critics argue that primary prevention is vital, but it must be robust and impactful. The report includes sections on “listening to the student's voice” and showcases examples of good practices in combating sexual violence in tertiary education. 

More details are accessible here.