The university wants an end to the court case against Gerd Schröder-Turk “sooner rather than later”

The university advised staff yesterday that it has written to Associate Professor Gerd Schröder-Turk’s lawyers, “inviting him to progress discussions to resolve the ongoing legal matters.”

This relates to a dispute following Schröder-Turk’s speaking out over the university’s international student admission policies. The university’s position is that he could not do this as a member of its senate.

Murdoch U has already dropped a claim for financial damages against Aspro Schröder-Turk, for losses in student income and institutional reputation it said it incurred after he appeared on ABC TV’s Four Corners, (CMM January 20).

The university now tells staff it, “believes it is in the interests of all parties to bring this matter to a close and wishes to achieve this sooner rather than later.”

“As always, Murdoch University is committed to freedom of expression and will always provide an environment for students and staff to speak freely.

“This is a long standing and fundamental commitment which is an integral part of our university,” MU adds.

What, if anything, the university is prepared to concede, it appears management would prefer not to go back to court. The case is scheduled for April.

The university’s case against Aspro Schröder-Turk was widely and fiercely criticised in Australian and overseas as a breach of academic free-speech.
The Commonwealth is also proposing legislation with a seven-point definition of academic freedom, including, “the freedom of academic staff and students to express their opinions in relation to the higher education provider in which they work or are enrolled,” (CMM January 22).

A compliance assessment of Murdoch U’s international student admission standards and practises, by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency, is expected this month.