Sacked academic’s $160,000 legal bid

A showdown looms between James Cook uni and the professor it sacked over a gag order relating to Barrier Reef science.

University academic Peter Ridd. Picture: Cameron Laird

Physics professor Peter Ridd, sacked by James Cook University last week for allegedly breaching the institution’s code of conduct, has raised $160,000 in only three days to help fund his legal case against the university.

On Saturday, after Professor Ridd’s sacking was revealed in The Australian, the scientist reopened his GoFundMe page and closed it on Monday night after the $160,000 target for his legal defence had been reached.

The money is additional to $100,000 raised in only two days in February for his legal case, which he launched against the university last year.

In his case Professor Ridd alleges senior staff of the university exhibited bias towards him and had not acted fairly or in good faith.

Professor Ridd, a researcher in coastal oceanography and reef systems, has said that other scientists, including former colleagues, at JCU have exaggerated dangers to the Great Barrier Reef, saying that events such as coral bleaching occur naturally at regular intervals followed by recovery.

In a statement on Sunday JCU explained the sacking, saying it had no objection to Professor Ridd raising scientific research issues. “However, the university has objected to the manner in which he has done this. He has sensationalised his comments to attract attention, has criticised and denigrated published work, and has demonstrated a lack of respect for his colleagues and institutions in doing so,” deputy vice-chancellor Iain Gordon said in the statement.

Professor Gordon said Professor Ridd’s “academic freedom is not and has never been at issue and is not related to the termination of his employment”.

“His employment was terminated by reason of his repeated refusal to comply with the university code of conduct and the repeated disrespect he showed for the university as a senior employee,” he said.

Commenting on the case, federal Education Minister Simon Birmingham said “researchers and universities should be willing to have their work stand up to scrutiny”.

“Any university should be encouraging their researchers and students to ask questions, not shutting down debate,” he said.

Professor Ridd said yesterday his next step was to wait for the court case.

“We expect to win,” he said.