Steele case appeal- pure mischief making
3 September 2001
The NTEU has condemned the decision of the University of Wollongong Vice-Chancellor, Professor Gerard Sutton, to appeal the decision of the Federal Court in the Ted Steele dismissal case.
\"The summary dismissal of Dr Steele was a blatantly unlawful act. It clearly breached the requirements of the Certified Agreement between the NTEU and the University. The Vice-Chancellor tried to argue that there was a technical loophole in the wording of the Agreement that allowed the Vice-Chancellor to ignore the requirements of the agreement. Justice Branson comprehensively rejected this argument. The NTEU is confident that it will be rejected again if this appeal proceeds,\" said NTEU General Secretary, Grahame McCulloch.
\"The decision to appeal represents a gross misuse of public funds and will only add to the significant legal costs already sustained and the substantial damage already done to the reputation of the University of Wollongong by the actions of the Vice-Chancellor.
The Vice-Chancellor should stop trying to save his own face and negotiate the best solution for the University and its academic community.\"
The NTEU believes that a negotiated settlement is still a possibility and notes that a further negotiation meeting is scheduled to take place in Wollongong next Wednesday.