The government has announced changes to free speech rules for universities, saying it's concerned that they are currently taking a risk based approach and need more diverse opinions.

The new rules will set out expectations for universities on how to approach freedom of speech issues and each one will have to adopt a free speech statement.

They will also be prohibited from taking positions on issues that don't relate to their core functions.

Tertiary Education Union President Sandra Grey says there isn't a problem here that needs to be fixed.

"It feels like we've got a heavy-handed approach from a government that apparently is anti-regulation but is now going to put in place the whole lot of requirements on a community that just doesn't need it."

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