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Dr Mike Joy
A comment by outspoken academic Dr Mike Joy suggesting that dairy industry leaders should be hanged for nitrate contamination of drinking/groundwater has enraged farmers.
Federated Farmers has formally written to Joy’s employer, Victoria University vice-chancellor Nic Smith raising serious concerns about Joy’s conduct and requesting a response.
Joy made the comments in a LinkedIn post last month, suggesting the dairy industry is currently putting babies (and adults) at risk with nitrate contamination of drinking/groundwater.
His proposed solution: "How about we bring back hanging for industry CEOs?"
Federated Farmers dairy chair Karl Dean says such extreme, violent and dangerous views are totally unacceptable from a well-known and senior academic.
"Dr Joy is entitled to his opinions, and he has plenty of views that are anti-farming, but suggesting industry CEOs should be hanged has no place in academia or New Zealand society.
"These are clearly the views of a fringe academic with activist tendencies and political motives - not a credible, level-headed and impartial researcher that the public can trust."
According to the Victoria University website, Joy is currently employed as Senior Research Fellow at the School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences.
"We’re taking Dr Joy’s violent and extreme comments very seriously and have a firm expectation that Victoria University will do the same," Dean says.
"It would be extraordinary if the University failed to take appropriate action in response to this kind of extremist content being publicly posted online. It strikes at the heart of their credibility.
"If a teacher at my kids’ school made comments like this - towards anyone at all - I’d be demanding their resignation immediately.
"Dr Joy must be held accountable."
Rural News has sought comments from Victoria University.
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