Support Rises For Dissident Academic

The Age

Thursday May 22, 2008

By Clay Lucas, Transport reporter

ACADEMICS and free-market experts have come out in support of Melbourne University transport academic Paul Mees.

Prominent architectural and urban design commentator Kim Dovey, also at Melbourne University, said yesterday that Dr Mees' "manner rather than his arguments" had been targeted.

"Dr Mees has brought great repute to the University of Melbourne yet he is ironically charged with the opposite," Professor Dovey wrote in a letter to The Age.

"The public will judge universities on our capacity to manage and retain brilliant but difficult academics, and to protect public intellectuals against attack. On this occasion we have unfortunately failed."

The Institute of Public Affairs also defended Dr Mees' right to his views - while simultaneously saying his views on public transport were wrong.

"One virtue Mees can claim is consistency - he has been criticising the transport policies of successive state governments since Dick Hamer was premier," IPA research fellow Richard Allsop said. "Until now, no government has attempted to silence him."

The university's move against Dr Mees came after the State Government threatened legal action over comments it described as a "scurrilous and highly defamatory attack", which were made at a university debate on the privatisation of Melbourne's public transport network.

"It appears the Brumby Government apparently lacks the courage to debate him, and the University of Melbourne apparently lacks the courage to stand up to the Government," Mr Allsop said. "Their collusion in attempts to silence him is outrageous."

Melbourne University has defended itself against allegations of attempting to censor Dr Mees to maintain good relations with the State Government.

The university has said that Dr Mees was the subject of a number of previous complaints within the university, including from a student and colleagues, before the latest incident. The previous complaints, which dated from as early as 2005, resulted in no action being taken against Dr Mees at the time.

© 2008 The Age

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