The Sunday Times, 30 Oct.  

Column Comment by Joe Poprzeczny 
	[edited for length]

Education Minister Norman Moore has launched a range of
educational reforms. 

[He then goes on to list a number of topics at present in
the local news.]

But another issue is brewing around him and involves WA's
highest echelons -- our judges -- and will attract plenty
of comment. 

For years it has been common practice to appoint judges to
university senate positions. 

[He lists the names of judges and the Universities with
which they are involved]

Crucial decisions are made by campuses which must be
confirmed by senates and the presence of judges on them
implies these decisions have been carefully reviewed. 

A case in point is the recent revelation in Parliament that
serious questions exist over the sacking of UWA
archaeologist Dr David Rindos.

UWA Vice-Chancellor Professor Fay Gale last year had to
bring the matter to the senate for consideration and it
went into secret session before Dr Rindos was fired.

However, this year Labor MP Mark Nevill asked about the
controversial sacking in Parliament.

The answers, provided to Mr Moore by UWA, were checked by
Dr Rindos and he found UWA's documents contradicted the
information given to the minister. So UWA was asked to
clarify the matter.

This was not properly done and led to a confidential letter
from Mr Moore's advisor, Professor Gordon Stanley, to
Professor Gale, a copy of which reached The Sunday Times.

The letter said: "Thank you for your letter of 22 June in
response to my request for information and commentary on Dr
Rindos's allegations that answers to parliamentary
questions provided by the minister were inaccurate and
misleading. 

"Unfortunately, it is not satisfactory that your response
has not replied to Dr Rindos's allegations in detail, but
rather in general.

"The minister may well be put in the situation where he has
to respond to the detail of Dr Rindos's allegations.

"It is my understanding that the document provided by Dr
Rindos may well have been sent to other members of
parliament to stimulate further questioning.

"If this is the case it is not possible for the minister to
avoid responding should such questioning proceed.

"I would be grateful for a more detailed and considered
reply to the allegations made by Dr Rindos."

A political row is brewing over Dr Rindos's treatment which
has sparked a world-wide academic storm. Sixty
archaeologists, including world-famous Cambridge Professor
Lord Renfrew, have written to UWA expressing dismay and
anger.

If judges appear to confirm university decisions, they may
end up being caught up in the row along with everybody
else.

But in this case the row is set to go before the courts.

Little wonder some academics and MPs questions whether our
judges should sit on senates when such complex issues can
arise.

The Rindos affair has angered many people and one outcome
has been second thoughts by some about judges being
closely linked to campus administrations. 

This affair as outlined by Professor Stanley's letter will
obviously continue to be pursued in Parliament.

Depending on the outcome, Mr Moore may feel pressured to
limit the non-judicial duties of judges, and thereby
prevent any appearance of conflict of interest at such
high levels.