Commonwealth ‘intervention’ is the ‘only way’ to protect academic free speech

Marine Physicist Peter Ridd says Commonwealth government “intervention” is the “only way” to ensure the free speech of academics is protected.

It comes after the High Court ruled against Mr Ridd in his battle against James Cook University over his dismissal.

Mr Ridd was sacked in 2018 for criticising the work of some of his colleagues in relation to the Great Barrier Reef.

The High Court found Mr Ridd had broken the rules of his employment contract by speaking publicly about the university's secret efforts to silence his criticism of his colleagues.

“In the end, I just was sick and tired of being told what I was or was not allowed to say,” he told Sky News host Andrew Bolt.

“I knew I was taking a risk on that confidentiality, but it just had to be done.

“There was just no choice; I couldn't live with myself and just shut up, which is what I would have had to have done.”

Mr Ridd said the confidentiality provisions in the academic work contracts are “absolutely Stasi-like" in the way they restrict free speech and the Commonwealth and state governments need to step in and resolve the issue.