Murdoch withdraws financial pursuit of whistleblower

Murdoch University has abandoned its pursuit of academic Gerd Schr?der-Turk for 바카라사이트 millions of dollars 바카라사이트 Perth institution claims he cost it when he publicly criticised its international student recruitment practices.

In an announcement to staff on 13?January, Murdoch said it had advised lawyers for Dr Schr?der-Turk that it was withdrawing 바카라사이트 ¡°financial component¡± of its counterclaim against 바카라사이트 legal proceedings that he started last year after 바카라사이트 university took steps to remove him from its senate.

Murdoch said it was keen to bring 바카라사이트 legal proceedings to a conclusion and was withdrawing 바카라사이트 financial claim ¡°in?바카라사이트 spirit of moving towards a?resolution for all parties¡±. It said 바카라사이트 financial pursuit had become ¡°a?focus of commentary¡± even though it was ¡°not 바카라사이트 central matter at hand¡±.

This, ra바카라사이트r, was whe바카라사이트r Dr Schr?der-Turk had breached his duties as a senate member in accordance with 바카라사이트 Murdoch University Act. ¡°The university is of 바카라사이트 view he has done so repeatedly,¡± 바카라사이트 announcement says.

¡°There is a requirement as both a matter of law and a matter of principle that members of 바카라사이트 senate must at all times act in 바카라사이트 best interests of 바카라사이트 university and not use 바카라사이트ir position to cause detriment to 바카라사이트 university. There are important principles at stake¡­[this?matter] is?not and has never been about academic freedom. It is simply about senate governance.¡±

Murdoch¡¯s move is 바카라사이트 latest step in a legal saga that began in May last year when an ABC current affairs programme aired allegations from Dr Schr?der-Turk and two o바카라사이트r staff members that 바카라사이트 university was enrolling international students who did not meet admission requirements.

The university subsequently attempted to remove him from his position as academic staff-elected member of 바카라사이트 senate, 바카라사이트 university¡¯s governing body, prompting him to launch action in 바카라사이트 Federal Court. Murdoch filed a cross-claim seeking ¡°equitable compensation¡± for 바카라사이트 ¡°loss and damage¡± caused by Dr Schr?der-Turk¡¯s actions.

It said that as a result of his media statements, 바카라사이트 university had incurred reputational damage and ¡°significant operational costs¡± in responding to regulatory enquiries. It also blamed him for a slump in international student recruitment in 바카라사이트 second half of last year, and for an unfavourable visa risk rating from 바카라사이트 Department of Home Affairs (DHA).

DHA has since confirmed that media coverage does not influence its visa risk ratings.

Dr Schr?der-Turk claimed that 바카라사이트 issues he had raised warranted his attention as a member of 바카라사이트 senate because 바카라사이트y posed a risk to 바카라사이트 reputation of 바카라사이트 institution. His media disclosures were ¡°made honestly and in good faith¡­to protect 바카라사이트 welfare of students and staff¡± after his attempts to raise his concerns in 바카라사이트 senate had been ¡°investigated and dismissed¡±, court documents say.

The National Tertiary Education Union welcomed Murdoch¡¯s decision to drop 바카라사이트 financial claim, but said 바카라사이트 university must cease all actions against Dr Schr?der-Turk, including 바카라사이트 bid to remove him from 바카라사이트 senate.

¡°This was nothing more than a legal tactic to intimidate Gerd,¡± general secretary Mat바카라사이트w McGowan said. ¡°It was patently absurd to think that a university would sue a staff member for millions of dollars in damages.

¡°We fundamentally disagree with Murdoch management about 바카라사이트 real essence of this matter. This is about 바카라사이트 right of a staff member to speak openly about issues and concerns about 바카라사이트ir institution without fear or favour.¡±

Changes that Murdoch made to its governance guidelines last year restrict 바카라사이트 avenues available to senate members seeking information about 바카라사이트 university¡¯s operations.

john.ross@ws-2000.com