Peter Ridd was a professor at James Cook University who dared to question claims that the Great Barrier Reef is facing imminent catastrophe from climate change. Eventually, he was sacked for not backing down.
But with public support he insisted that the university undertake some quality assurance of its research, and refused to be censored, for continuing to speak out.
His battle to speak for science against the Climate Inquisition reached the courts, with a three-day hearing in the Federal Court in Brisbane just last month. When the hearing wrapped up the presiding Judge Salvatore Vasta said he hoped to have a judgment before Easter.
We were expecting some notice before this judgment was read in court. There was none. It was presented today. And Peter Ridd won on all counts.
The Court ordered:
- The 17 findings made by the University, the two speech directions, the five confidentiality directions, the no satire direction, the censure and the final censure given by the University and the termination of employment of Professor Ridd by the University were all unlawful.
- The issue of the making of declarations and penalty is adjourned to a date to be fixed.
It is very significant that Peter has won on the issue of academic freedom: that he did have a right to ignore the university administrators and continuing to speak out about the lack of quality assurance and also against the disciplinary process he was being unfairly subjected to.
This is important news for freedom of speech and thought and professional conscience everywhere.
James Cook University may have already spent over $1 million in legal fees attempting to silence Peter.
They have assumed that sooner or later he would run out of money and courage. But not Peter, with his legal team and support of people like Spectator Australia readers, has kept going.
I have known several good professors lose their will to fight once they are isolated, and risk bankruptcy.
Taking this fight to the Federal Court would not have been possible were it not for Peter deciding to take a stand in defense of the truth, to not back down regardless of the consequences.
Cheryl Ridd has been a rock, in support of Peter and the ugliness that goes with such court cases, including the unfair and untrue affidavits.
John Roskam from the Institute of Public Affairs found Peter the very best legal counsel in Stuart Wood QC.
We then went into fundraising mode – twice. The first time to fight the censure, and the second time for Peter to get his job back.
Bloggers Anthony Watts, Joanne Nova, and also Benny Peiser were terrific. Together we raised $260,000 from 2,405 people.
Today’s judgment is only that Peter Ridd was wrongly sacked from his position as professor at the university.
He has not yet got his job back. There has been no ruling yet on remedies and restitution. Further, the university may yet appeal.
But thank you for your support – so far. May your generosity continue.
Read more at The Spectator
Now, where did I see the report that…. was it the Great Barrier Reef?… had disappeared and been rebuilt by corals something like five times over hundreds of thousands of years?
And we’re going to kill it permanently? Nah, not betting on That One.
Every time the eco-anarchist virtue signalers go to court they lose because
they are liars trying to bully through their agenda . No linger supported by the scientific method they rely on intimidation tactics that back fire . Even the courts recognize bullies and the right to free speech .
As soon as Al Gore (non scientist ) pronounced the “science is settled ” you knew the jig was up .
Out of ammo , and working against the demands of a business plan to shake
down citizens they tried to shut everybody up who wasn’t drinking their cool -aid .
The courts still rely on facts and the rule of law and that is where the bull shit artists are being exposed .
How did much of the MSM get so corrupt and heavily invested in the
earth has a fever fraud ?
90% of the MSM are card – carrying liberals. The other 10% were too lazy to sign up.
Happy Day for Dr. Peter Ridd!!
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A friend also took a university over a similar matter, and won.
The judge ripped a new one on the university…..