
Issue No 101		06 July 2001

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Academic Freedom On Trial

A Wollongong academic, sacked on the spot after raising concerns about the 'soft' marking of overseas students, has become the centre of a major test case on academic freedoms.

The National Tertiary Education Union launched legal action on behalf of Dr Ted Steele in the Federal Court this week, seeking reinstatement and repayment of lost wages.

The NTEU is claiming the University of Wollongong Vice-Chancellor Gerard Sutton had breached its own enterprise agreement in summarily dismissing Dr Steele for bringing the university into disrepute.

But beyond the breach of agreement, the NTEU fears the sacking will silence academics form speaking out on issues of public importance.

"It's been a long-standing tradition for academics to be the social conscience of society," the NTEU's Celia Bevan says. "If academics can't speak out with freedom, then it's a sorry day for democracy."

A decision on the case has been reserved.

Kemp Feels the Heat

Meanwhile, in unrelated legal action a Howard Government Minister is being sued for breaching the Reith laws in trying to force academic staff onto individual contracts.

The NTEU's case against the Minister for Education, Training and Youth Affairs, Dr David Kemp, was heard this week in the Federal Court in Melbourne before Justice Weinberg. His Honour has reserved his decision.

In the case, NTEU contended that Dr Kemp breached section 170NC of his own Government's Workplace Relations Act by coercing Universities to implement the Government's Workplace Reform Programme.

The leaking of a Cabinet submission caused a furore in 1999, leading Dr Kemp to drop proposals for deregulated university fees. However, the persistent Dr Kemp did succeed in getting Cabinet approval for the so-called 'Workplace Reform Programme,' which offered an additional 2% funding to universities, conditional upon the inclusion of so-called 'reforms' in enterprise agreements.

NTEU's case is that this Programme breached section 170NC of the Workplace Relations Act, by coercing universities and the NTEU into reaching agreements which included provisions which they would not have otherwise accepted or sought. These provisions include removal of award rights of employees, reduction of union participation in industrial matters and reduced job security for employees.

The leaked Cabinet submission can be viewed at:

http://www.nteu.org.au/Kemp Cabinet.pdf .

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  Issue 101 contents

Interview: A Little Knowledge
Labor's science spokesman Martyn Evans was the Opposition's key player on the Knowledge Nation inquiry. He fills us in on the process.

Education: Theory and Practise
Whether or not you agree with the priorities for of Barry Jones� Knowledge Nation Taskforce, Julie Wells argues its boldness has to be admired.

E-Change: 1.1 Email Nation
In the first of a series of articles on politics and the new economy, Peter Lewis and Michael Gadiel argue network technologies are reshaping the fundamentals of society.

Economics: Banking on the Goodwill
Given their history, Evan Jones wonders whether banks can really claim to be "just like any other business"

International: A Deathly Struggle
In this dispatch from PNG, a trade union leader briefs us on the situation following the shooting of seven students at an anti-privatisation rally.

History: Enlarging Human Personality
Mark Hearn argues that Lloyd Ross's post-War approach to Workplace Democracy seems contemporary by today's standards

Satire: Shit is a Four Letter Word
Australian TV drama is lame and gutless just look at the ABC's Love is a Four Letter Word, says Tony Moore

Review: Tribute to an Artist
Dalgarno painted the seagulls circling the seafarer like flies buzzing around the face of a bushman. Thus did the artist depict the maritime worker.

» Academic Freedom On Trial

» Unified Approach to Sheahan Inquiry

» Living Standards Shape as Election Factor

» Clairvoyant PM In Secret Deal Fantasy

» Hotels Face Workers Quiz

» Call for Senate to Decide Spammer's Fate

» PNG � Howard Should Speak Out

» Couriers Buck Over Tax Ruling

» Kempsey Killing Highlights Health Fears

» Checkout Operators Better Paid Than Aged Care Workers

» ACTU Weighs Into Bank Campaign

» Fund Bad Health for Families

» Australian Music Web Radio Station Needs Recruits

» Activist Notebook