21 May 1995

The Sunday Times, Bennett's Beat
    [a chatty weekly column carried on the Editorial page]

GOVERNOR'S RULE MIGHT UPSET SEAT OF LEARNING

WA Governor Mike Jeffery has shown he's not one to shy away
from having his say on public issues so it will be
interesting to see if he pokes his bib into a brawl that
has simmered at the University of WA for the past couple of
years.

Internationally acclaimed archaeologist Dr David Rindos who
was sacked by Vice-Chancellor Prof Fay Gale, is fighting
for justice.

He's written to UWA's Senate saying the uni had told him
and the WA Industrial Commission that its Visitor, who is
the Guv, was the appropriate forum fro an appeal on what he
terms his "unfair and improper dismissal."

The commission agreed with the uni's lawyers so Doc Dave
has begun proceeding before the Visitor.

He's also asked the Senate to join with him in asking the
Guv that his appeal be a public hearing, which would allow
his counsel to call all relevant witnesses to testify and
be cross-examined under oath.

Doc Dave has also asked the uni to bear all reasonable
costs of the appeal.

Considering UWA has spent more than $100,000 so far on
lawyers and other fees defending Prof Gale's decision to
fire a top-flight academic, some say a few more bucks in
the name of justice wouldn't be out of order.