Peter Ridd lost his job for ‘speaking out against the zeitgeist’

Former JCU Professor Peter Ridd lost his job for “speaking out against the zeitgeist,” according to Sky News host Chris Kenny.

It comes as the High Court has ruled against Mr Ridd in his battle against JCU over his dismissal.

Mr Ridd was sacked in 2018 for criticising a colleague’s work studying the Great Barrier Reef.

“So much for academic freedom, so much for freedom of speech, and so much for a science-based debate,” Mr Kenny said.

[kimberleygirl]

I supported Peter Ridd in the beginning, I support him now. I would do the same in the future should legal action be needed for freedom of speech.

[serviusm]

So Australia just cemented that professors and academics cannot provide criticism to research papers without fear of being fired.
Yep, Australia is ruined.

[theitchywitch]

A sad day for free speech, valid science and an honourable Australian academic.

[alasdair]

If the science doesn't grease the wheels of the money cart it must never be accepted... (truth need not apply..)

[liberty-matrix]

"At one time, educators boasted that their role was not to teach students what to think but how to think. Today, their role is far too often to teach students what to think on everything from immigration to global warming to the new sacred trinity of 'race, class and gender.'" ~ Thomas Sowell

[retiredsparkie]

It’s not science anymore it’s a big club and if you don’t conform your kicked out.

[rocknrod]

"Science" on climate change is not allowed to be questioned. Same holds true to the "science" on the vaccines. Think about it.

[terrenceodgers]

Real science is never settled, but in Australian Universities, 'pseudo science' must not be challenged.

[leelee]

Very, very sad what is happening in this suddenly changed world.

[levivictor-gordon]

Thanks for standing up for the truth Pete, hope it hasn't cost you to much in your personal life. I have a science degree in a different field and have admired your work and your courage for speaking out for many years.

[aeroearth]

"Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely"
Correction sorely needed and its coming.

[raymondholder]

SO WHEN WILL SKY COVER CRAIG KELLY SPEECH IN PARLIMENT.

[AwakeNotWoke]

That's the difference between *the* science and science. One is a euphemism for the pursuit of totalitarianism, shamelessly labelling unsubstantiated opinion as definitive, authoritative, and conclusive. And the other is a pursuit of knowledge open to debate, discussion, testing, data and review.

[JismL-No]

"Wont allow to be Challenged, tested or debated" - Sounds like to \/x

[ghostofchristmaspast]

Its not science and they will get what's coming to them.

[richo]

Two recent decisions by the High Court that EVERY Australian should be worried about. The decision last year against Clive Palmer regarding the WA border, basically condoning the actions of Premiers to keep borders shut between states and now this one. We are in a LOT of trouble when the High Court is making decisions that are not in the best interest of the citizens of this country and are in the interest of the ruling class. That's very scary stuff.

[WeddingDJBusiness]

From what I understand, Peter essentially won his case but lost on a technicality in the contract. The High Court ruled that it was unfair to dismiss Peter regarding his comments against others. He is allowed to do this as he was technically qualified and protected by academic freedom in the contract. However, under some confidentiality clause in his contract, he was not supposed to tell anyone/ the public of the unfair censure/dismissal. This part, according to the judges, allowed the university to dismiss Peter.
Peter was somehow supposed to contest his unfair dismissal without telling anyone, which would mean how was he supposed to get support from family and the public, including funding expensive lawyer fees/costs. All against an employer who had access to taxpayer funds to put towards its case.
So you can't let anyone know you are getting abused and have to keep your council and fund an expensive appeal against a tax-funded large organization that is the wrongdoer in this case. Hardly a fair outcome.

[barrywalsh]

More people will avoid avoid working academia and choose the private sector. There are many academics who have different opinions, but are not expressing their views, fearful of the consequences.

[domenicbellino]

The same thing happens to all great thinkers in the past. The so called academics cancel someone whos ideas are different and true.

[sidah]

Abomination that JCU and co has elected to dismiss this marine physicist who is listed in the top 5% of researchers GLOBALLY instead of allowing scientific debate on the subject.