That was a day after Mr Vaile departed the role, firing parting shots at those who had opposed the decision to offer him that job. Criticism stemmed from past comments querying climate change and his involvement with coal firm Whitehaven.

Bipartisan concern for Mr Vaile's predicament flowed from MPs, including Joel Fitzgibbon's accusations of "new McCarthyism" and Alan Tudge invoking cancel culture. "At a time when we are trying to promote and enforce free speech and academic freedom on campus, we should not have a very competent person forced out of an important job because of this cancel culture," Mr Tudge said on Tuesday.

The distinction made between free speech and "cancel culture" is a curious one. In this case students, academics and others merely made their views plain. None made theirs clearer than Professor Jennifer Martin, who ostensibly tendered her resignation in protest of Mr Vaile's appointment.

Ultimately, Mr Vaile resigned the position before beginning on July 1. That mode of exit indicates the decision was his, pressure aside. Just as he was entitled to apply and accept the job initially, those unhappy with that decision were free to make that view known. His response to that, departure, was his own to choose. That is a consequence of events, not some unilateral decision of a mob as Mr Tudge would have it.

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Anyone taking such a prestigious post must surely expect to be held to a rigorous standard, just like political leaders. No-one is owed such a role, particularly not from a university with a prized reputation for innovation.

The university could be forgiven for revising its cost-benefit calculations around the appointment after the backlash, particularly given it faces the loss of international students and its own restructuring. Again, though, Mr Vaile chose his path.

Perceptions of coal, and those with ties to it, are in a state of flux.

A bedrock of this week's state budget, its emissions were also cited as a factor in Barnaby Joyce taking control of the Nationals party room Mr Vaile once led. It also played a major part in the rhetoric around the Upper Hunter by-election in May, including the need for transition. With renewables gaining momentum, is it surprising that students and researchers of all people might oppose a symbolic nod towards fossil fuels?

Mr Vaile's failed appointment may mark a turning point in the broader coal debate, or not. The question now becomes how long Mr Jeans will remain in the post and who comes next. Whatever the answer, the standard for the role has clearly been reset.

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