The attacks on university staff and students engaged in teaching, researching and speaking out against the state, military and religious powers, and for fairness, democracy, and equality, are increasing. As has been noted by many academics and commentators, liberal democratic principles of free speech and movement, alongside academic freedom, are very much a battle ground in the 21st century. Free movement of academics and students around the world is critical to freedom, of thought and action. Academic freedom is a responsibility, not a right. It is to speak truth to power; to honour the liberal university goal of working for the public good; and for the publicly funded university, in particular, to act in the public interest. What then is stopping Australian universities from speaking truth to power today? Why are Australian universities so quiet in comparison with students, staff and even university leaderships in many other places? This article discusses three big and intertwined obstacles to the exercise of academic freedom in Australian universities today which are not unique to Australia but are often overlooked in focussing on the bigger human and professional rights picture. These are: (1) insecure employment; (2) unreliable funding; and (3) pressure in partnerships.