A university academic who spoke out about international student admission standards and welfare is being counter-sued for damages by his employer after appearing on a Four Corners program.

Key points: A Four Corners investigation found Murdoch University was one of a number of Australian universities admitting international students below its own published English standards

A Four Corners investigation found Murdoch University was one of a number of Australian universities admitting international students below its own published English standards Dr Gerd Schroder-Turk appeared in the program and has commenced legal action against the university under the Fair Work Act

Dr Gerd Schroder-Turk appeared in the program and has commenced legal action against the university under the Fair Work Act Murdoch University has filed a cross-claim law suit seeking damages for money lost since he spoke publicly

Federal Court documents reveal Murdoch University in Western Australia is seeking compensation from Associate Professor Gerd Schroder-Turk, claiming it has lost millions of dollars in revenue due to a reduction in international student numbers since the program aired.

Dr Schroder-Turk was one of three Murdoch academics who told a Four Corners investigation in May that they were concerned for the welfare of a group of Indian students who were failing courses in higher than normal numbers.

Four Corners found Murdoch University was one of a number of Australian universities admitting international students below its own published English standards, or through other means without taking an independent English test.

Murdoch said at the time it "maintains admission standards consistent with national standards for international students, along with English language requirements in line with those across the sector."

Dr Schroder-Turk, who also sits on the university's senate, commenced legal action in the Federal Court under the Fair Work Act, seeking compensation and an injunction to stop the university taking disciplinary action against him.

His statement of claim filed in the Federal Court alleges that at a senate meeting two days after the broadcast, he was informed a resolution would be proposed to remove him from his senate position because of his public comments.

Now, Murdoch University has filed a cross-claim against Dr Schroder-Turk, stating he breached his fiduciary duties by disclosing information to journalists and alleging the university has suffered reputational damage as a result of media reports.

Dr Gerd Schroder-Turk is a senior lecturer in mathematics and statistics. ( Twitter: @MurdochUniNews )

Griffith University public policy and law Professor AJ Brown said it was an unusual move, and could be an important legal test case.

"I'm not aware of any situation where a university, or really … any sort of organisation, has actually counter-sued the whistleblower for damages," he said.

"That can become a very protracted and costly legal battle which basically ends up discouraging other whistleblowers from coming forward."

The university's counter-claim states Murdoch has incurred significant operational costs responding to investigations by tertiary regulators that were prompted by the Four Corners program.

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It also states Murdoch's Immigration Risk Rating has been upgraded to the highest level in its history by the Department of Home Affairs.

Murdoch University claims international student intake is down almost 15 per cent on forecast figures, which it said would cause revenue impact in the order of millions of dollars.

National Tertiary Education Union WA secretary Jonathan Hallett wants an independent investigation into the matters raised in the Four Corners program.

"Everybody should be worried that a representative of academics on the university's governing board has taken the extraordinary step of speaking out, and as a result, the public university has tried to not only silence him but sue him for damages," he said.

In an email, a Murdoch University spokeswoman said because the matter is before the court, the university would not be making any comment.

At the time of the Four Corners broadcast, Murdoch denied it was lowering academic standards to allow more lucrative international students into the University.

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