The former High Court chief justice handed the reins to undertake a review of free speech at universities has previously called for a "very high threshold" on campuses before views are shut down.
Robert French, who is currently chancellor of The University of Western Australia, will lead an immediate probe into limitations on free speech at universities across the country.
When announcing the review on Wednesday, Education Minister Dan Tehan said it could result in a voluntary framework outlining a university's commitment to promoting freedom of speech.
In an address on the topic two months ago at Charles Darwin University, Mr French cited an Australian Family Association event at UWA which was cancelled over safety concerns.
The university gave in to community outcry over guest speaker Quentin Van Meter's views on transgender people.
"What one person regards as harmful, another may legitimately view as bearing no adverse consequence," Mr French said.
"There should be a very high threshold to be overcome before universities, academics or student bodies or groups seek to prevent speech on campus by reference to its content."
The threshold would be met if general law is breached, he added.
However, Mr French believes laws providing protections to universities would go too far.
"The better approach is to encourage and maintain a robust culture of open speech and discussion even though it may involve people hearing views they might find offensive or even hurtful," he said.
"That's one of the prices we pay for a core freedom in this liberal democracy and it's not likely to be eroded."
The need for the review has been questioned by Universities Australia, who say more than 100 policies already exist across the country to encourage free speech.
The University of Sydney's vice-chancellor Michael Spence is confident the review will find "robust and appropriate" processes are in place at most campuses.
However, Mr Tehan insists chancellors have raised concerns with him over limitations to free of speech, but says he wasn't asked to trigger the review.
"We need to look at all those codes, look at the standards, look at the regulations and just see whether they are fit for purpose for the 21st century," he told the ABC on Thursday.
Labor says the review is a distraction from budget cuts to the sector and there is no crisis to address.
It's understood Mr French has not asked for payment and any funding needed for the review will be provided for within the existing budget.
Australian Associated Press
