Academic Peter Ridd not sacked for his climate views, university says

'We defend Peter's right to make statements " until we are blue in the face,' says deputy vice chancellor

A James Cook University boss says media reports about its sacking of controversial marine scientist Peter Ridd are "misleading and untrue" and that his academic freedom had always been upheld.

In an exclusive interview with Guardian Australia, deputy vice chancellor Prof Iain Gordon said he was frustrated at reports claiming Ridd was sacked for his fringe views on climate change or for his rejection of the scientific evidence linking human activity to degradation of the Great Barrier Reef.