University of Tasmania hires barrister Maree Norton­ to investigate Peter Rathjen sex-misconduct allegations

The University of Tasmania is investigating allegations of sexual misconduct levelled against former­ vice-chancellor Peter Rathjen, as the scandal surrounding him grows.

Peter Rathjen in Sydney last year. Picture: Monique Louise Ferguson

The University of Tasmania has appointed a senior barrister to investigate­ allegations of sexual misconduct levelled against former­ vice-chancellor Peter Rathjen, as the scandal surrounding him grows.

Professor Rathjen was found by South Australia’s Independent Commission Against Corruption to have groped two employees and conducted an illicit relationship with a third while vice-­chancellor at the University of Adelaide.

He led that university from January 2018 until July this year, when he quit, citing ill-health. He was University of Tasmania vice-chancellor between 2011 and 2017 and previously held senior positions at Melbourne University.

In a letter to staff on Wednesday, University of Tasmania vice-chancellor Rufus Black said the university would look at Professor Rathjen’s time there “to determin­e if there are unreported or undetected issues arising (from that period)”.

The university has appointed Melbourne barrister Maree Norton­ to oversee the complaints process, Professor Black said.

“She will be point-of-contact for anyone with experiences to share who is not comfortable talking with the university direct­ly (including people who may have previously reported their experiences and not been satisfied with the university’s response),” his email reads.

“My commitment is that we will be open and transparent about any findings of the review into Peter Rathjen’s time at (the) Universit­y of Tasmania.”

Another barrister, Wendy Harris QC, was engaged by the University of Melbourne in 2018 to review a formal complaint made by a former student during Professor Rathjen’s tenure as dean of science, a position he held between 2006 and 2008. Ms ­Harris upheld the complaint, but these details were not passed on to the University of Adelaide.

University of Tasmania vice-chancellor Rufus Black. Picture: Luke Bowden

University of Melbourne vice-chancellor Duncan Maskell has also written to staff, saying while policies were in place “to deal with sexual assault and harassment”, the ICAC report would be used as a basis for a review of operations. “I am committing this university to examining the recommendations in the ICAC report to ensure that we make improvements to our procedures wherever necessary,” Professor Maskell said.

The ICAC report, published late last month, concluded that Professor Rathjen groped and kissed two female staff against their will, lied about an affair with another staff member, and lied repeatedly about past claims of sexual harassment against a female student at another university.

He resigned the day after he was interviewed by then ICAC commis­sio­n­er Bruce Lander QC, who also found he had repeatedly lied to ICAC.

The report shows Professor Rathjen’s downfall started at a university function on April 19 last year, at which he subjected the two staff members, known only as A and B, to sustained and unwelcome advances.

The report says he hugged and touched Ms A’s bottom while they were at a hotel, touched her bottom again on a walk to another hotel, then hugged her and touched her bottom twice while they were at the second hotel.

The Australian reported on Wednesday that the university had dropped plans to force staff into a significant pay cut as it reeled from anger over rumours of a $1m payout to Professor Rathjen. In response, chancellor Catherine Branson took the unprecedented step of disclosing Professor Rathjen had received $326,400 when he quit in July.