news
Associate Professor Gerd Schroeder-Turk.
Photo: Colin Murty/The Australian
Murdoch Uni
backs down
University drops financial claim
against whistleblower.
M
urdoch University has dropped
a financial claim against
employee and whistleblower
Gerd Schroeder-Turk, filed after he spoke
out about Murdoch’s admission standards
for international students on the ABC’s
Four Corners program.
Schroeder-Turk was one of a number of
academics who appeared on the program
Strongholds
in crises
Bushfires in Gippsland, Vic. Picture: Alan Barber
Universities support communities
ravaged by fires.
U
niversities are not only a place of
learning, they also play a pivotal
role in keeping towns and cities
strong and connected during catastrophic
events like the bushfires of the last
two months.
“University communities across Australia
have responded powerfully to bushfires of
unprecedented scale and impact in recent
days, weeks and months – utilising facilities,
expertise and resources to support local
2
campusreview.com.au
to voice concern about the number of
students Australian universities were
accepting into courses who did not have
the requisite English or subject matter
knowledge to be successful.
After his appearance, the associate
professor pursued legal action in the Federal
Court to stop Murdoch from revoking his
position on the university’s senate.
The university counter-sued for millions
of dollars in damages but have now
abandoned the claim.
Schroeder-Turk said he was relieved by
the university’s decision to withdraw the
financial component of the counterclaim.
He said it had caused him and his family
“a great deal of unnecessary stress”.
“I have always acted in the best interest of
the university, its students and its staff, and
have done so in very difficult circumstances,”
he said. “However, my concerns about the
welfare of students remain.
“‘Those who are strong enough to assert
their rights have a responsibility to protect
others, especially those who are dependent
on them’. This is a quote from Murdoch
University’s code of ethics, and I attempt to
live up to this expectation in everything I do.” Schroeder-Turk’s lawyer, Josh Bornstein,
said the legal claim was baseless.
“It should never have been pursued in
the first place. Murdoch University’s claim
for millions of dollars in damages was an
unprecedented attack on a whistleblower
in this country.
“The university clearly intended to try
and frighten my client and any other
staff member wanting to speak up about
maladministration,” he said.
Murdoch University said the decision
to take legal action was about whether
Schroder-Turk’s actions breached his duties
as a member of the senate.
“Associate Professor Schroder-Turk’s
legal action and the university’s subsequent
defence is not and has never been about
academic freedom. It is simply about
senate governance.”
The National Tertiary Education Union
said despite withdrawing the financial
claim, Murdoch was still pursuing efforts to
remove Schroder-Turk from the senate.
NTEU president Dr Alison Barnes said:
“The associate professor is the academic
staff member elected by his peers to be a
member of the university senate.” ■
residents, emergency authorities, students
and staff,” Universities Australia chief
executive Catriona Jackson said.
“Universities are deeply embedded parts
of the communities we serve. Examples
of how universities are assisting include
opening student accommodation facilities
for evacuees and firefighters.
“We estimate beds in the hundreds,
possibly thousands, have been offered in
response to the crisis.
“On-campus vet clinics are providing
accommodation and clinical support for
animals – both evacuated and injured.
“Universities are making available their
facilities for local emergency response
coordinators, including meeting rooms and
car parking,” she said.
“Several universities have established
scholarships to ensure those impacted
by bushfires have a better chance of
commencing, and completing, their studies.”
Jackson added that affected universities
are also supporting their students by
extending assignment deadlines, providing
financial and counselling support, and in
some cases, replacing damaged study
materials such as laptops, computers and
uniforms for students. University staff who are fighting the
fires are also being granted paid leave in
some cases, as well as receiving access
to personal leave, emergency financial
support and counselling.
“Universities know that the impact of
these fires will extend well beyond the
immediate threat – and have taken a
wide range of actions to ensure student
and staff and community support in
the short, medium and longer term,”
Jackson said.
“Universities continue to liaise closely with
local authorities and their communities,
and will consider additional ways to
provide support to them as the bushfire
threat evolves.”
Jackson also said that many universities
will be using a range of ways to
communicate with their students regarding
how they might be affected by the fires.
“Students preparing to come to Australia
to study should contact their university if
they have any specific queries or concerns,”
she said.
“Students currently in Australia should
reach out to university support services if
they feel distressed or anxious about the
current bushfire situation.” ■