Queensland Academic Peter Ridd has lost a High Court battle over his sacking for his criticism towards colleagues working on the impact of climate change on the Great Barrier Reef.
Ridd’s disparaging commentary was over work at Townsville’s James Cook University, which aimed at linking climate change and polluted water to coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef.
Dr Ridd had argued his sacking was illegal because it breached the employment agreement which he said protected academic freedom.
The university’s lawyers told the High Court his claims were flawed.