A University of Melbourne professor who faced possible termination following a controversial email has reached a settlement with the institution, sources have confirmed.
Dr Eric Descheemaeker came under scrutiny after a 2023 email to the then-dean of Melbourne Law School (MLS) was leaked and circulated across the Parkville campus. In the email, Descheemaeker claimed the law school was turning into an “ideological re-education camp” and warned that “‘Blak’ activists” were steering the school toward “destruction.”
The email was written in response to the announcement of a cultural safety review at the university, and included statements describing MLS as “celebrating the ‘noble savage’” and criticizing what he perceived as the injection of identity politics into the curriculum.
Following the leak, the university moved to dismiss Descheemaeker. He subsequently filed a lawsuit alleging discrimination, arguing that the attempted termination in July 2023 was motivated by his political opinions.
The case was scheduled for a trial in the Federal Circuit and Family Court next month. However, court records show that the matter was finalised and dismissed by consent of both parties in November, indicating that a settlement had been reached. A formal announcement is expected in the coming weeks.
A spokesperson for the University of Melbourne confirmed the dismissal of the proceedings but declined to comment further on the settlement or Descheemaeker’s current employment status. “The University cannot make any further comment at this time,” the spokesperson said.
In his lawsuit, Descheemaeker alleged that the university had taken adverse action against him by suspending his employment because of his political opinions. At a court hearing in September 2025, his legal team argued that the professor’s emails represented political expression and were protected under the university’s academic freedom policies.
Barrister Dimitri Ternovski, representing Descheemaeker, told the court that the comments in the emails were intended as a critique of “identity politics” rather than as racially motivated remarks. He emphasised that the language in the leaked email was “colourful” but directed solely to the dean, not for public dissemination.
The university’s legal team, led by Marc Felman KC, maintained that there was no prima facie case that Descheemaeker’s proposed dismissal was unlawful, describing the case as “hopeless.” Only a portion of the university’s defence was heard in September, as both sides agreed to adjourn proceedings.
The controversy comes amid broader tensions at Melbourne Law School over Indigenous representation and institutional culture. In 2023, the university commissioned a cultural safety review following public complaints about racism, which coincided with the resignation of Indigenous academic Dr Eddie Cubillo, then an associate dean and senior fellow at MLS.
Descheemaeker’s email drew attention for its stark language and pointed criticism of what he viewed as ideological shifts within the faculty. While the email sparked outrage and calls for disciplinary action, the settlement indicates both parties opted to resolve the matter without a protracted court battle.
The case has reignited debate over the boundaries of academic freedom, political expression, and institutional accountability in Australian universities. Legal experts note that disputes of this nature, particularly involving leaked communications and internal critique, are increasingly common in higher education institutions navigating cultural change and diversity initiatives.
As details of the settlement remain confidential, questions linger about the long-term implications for both Descheemaeker and the University of Melbourne. Observers suggest the resolution may allow the institution to move past the controversy while highlighting ongoing tensions between staff expression and evolving diversity policies.
