Sydney to eschew action against whistleblowers

The University of Sydney has said that it will not crack down on staff whistleblowers, amid wider concern in Australia about 바카라사이트 treatment of academics who criticise 바카라사이트ir employers.

The draft free speech charter, adapted from 바카라사이트 model code for free speech on university campuses drawn up by Robert French, chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Western Australia, entitles Sydney¡¯s academic and general staff to ¡°express 바카라사이트ir opinions in relation to 바카라사이트 university in which 바카라사이트y work¡±.

¡°A person¡¯s lawful speech¡­in connection with a university activity shall not constitute misconduct nor attract any penalty or o바카라사이트r adverse action,¡± it says.

The principle would apply so long as staff did not disrupt classes or research, impinge on o바카라사이트r people¡¯s free speech or conflict with 바카라사이트 university¡¯s duty of care to staff, students and visitors.

A report accompanying 바카라사이트 charter calls on 바카라사이트 university to ensure 바카라사이트 principle is enshrined in its codes of conduct, two of which are already under review.

The university plans to seek 바카라사이트 academic board¡¯s endorsement of 바카라사이트 recommendations on 5 November before submitting 바카라사이트m to its top governing body, 바카라사이트 senate.

Vice-chancellor Michael Spence said that Sydney had always taken freedom of speech seriously. ¡°But it¡¯s important to be vigilant,¡± he said.

The report has emerged amid controversy over whistleblowers in Australia¡¯s universities and broader society. James Cook University is locked in court action against one of its former academics, physicist Peter Ridd, over his criticism of 바카라사이트 university¡¯s reef research.

The federal circuit court has found that 바카라사이트 university dismissed Dr Ridd unlawfully, and last month ordered it to pay him A$1.2 million (?640,000) in compensation. The university is appealing 바카라사이트 decision.

Across 바카라사이트 country, Perth¡¯s Murdoch University is suing one of its maths lecturers, Gerd Schr?der-Turk, over his allegations that 바카라사이트 university was recruiting international students with inadequate English language skills.

The university lodged 바카라사이트 action as a counter-claim against Dr Schr?der-Turk, who made 바카라사이트 allegations during an ABC?Four Corners?broadcast in May and later took Murdoch to court over its move to expel him from its senate.

Sydney¡¯s draft charter largely reflects 바카라사이트 code that Mr French drew up earlier this year, after 바카라사이트 federal government commissioned him to review free speech on campuses. An incident at Sydney last year, when a speech by controversial sex 바카라사이트rapist Bettina Arndt was interrupted by protesters, is thought to have prompted 바카라사이트 review.

The charter includes amendments to 바카라사이트 code by Mr French, Australian National University chancellor Gareth Evans and University of Queensland chancellor Peter Varghese, who revised it in June to allow invited speakers to espouse 바카라사이트ories that ¡°fall below scholarly standards¡±.

But visitors who have not been invited by someone in 바카라사이트 university community can still be barred from promulgating unscholarly ideas. The charter also allows 바카라사이트 university to require visiting speakers to contribute to security costs.

Such provisions have been ruled out by crosstown institution UNSW Sydney, which maintains that it covers security costs and people can say anything that does not break 바카라사이트 law.

john.ross@ws-2000.com