On Wednesday last week,JCU won an appeal against that decision in the Federal Court,with two of the three judges hearing the case recommending the compensation be set aside and JCU be allowed to further appeal claims by Dr Ridd that it acted unlawfully in firing him.
JCU maintains it did not sack Dr Ridd because of his views on global warming,but alleges he breached the staff code of conduct by publicly criticising colleagues’ work.
The initial finding had been that JCU had overstepped its bounds by firing Dr Ridd. However,two of the three appeal judges found he did not have an “untrammelled right” to air his views in apparent breach of the code of conduct.
Dr Ridd was previously trying to be reinstated to his position as head of the physics department at the university,but has since shifted to seeking compensation.
He said the decision to take the matter to the High Court was not done lightly,but because he did not believe the matter could be left at its current point.
“It’s totally about the principle at this stage. If this was about money or something then I would have stayed safe in my nice cushy job at the university and said nothing,” he said.
“If we let this stand,with the construction of the appeal judges,then you’ve only got academic freedom in name only.