The federal government is seeking legal advice on the University of Western Australia's decision not to host a controversial taxpayer-funded research centre.
The university ditched a $4 million contract for climate change sceptic Bjorn Lomborg's Australian Consensus Centre, amid strong backlash from staff, students and the public.
Education Minister Christopher Pyne is disappointed and remains committed to opening the centre.
"It is surprising that individuals at an institution of higher learning claiming to embrace the notion of academic and intellectual freedom would display intolerance and shout down a voice in the debate they simply dont agree with," a spokesman told AAP on Saturday.
The government believes the investment would enable the "best economic thinkers" in the world to contribute to Australia's policy debates.
Dr Lomborg blamed the university's decision on "toxic politics, ad hominem attacks and premature judgment" and said the centre had been used as a "political football".
He rejected suggestions he was a climate change heretic and said the centre would have put the university at the forefront of global research efforts to improve the use of aid spending.
"This is far too important to let fall victim to toxic politics," he said.
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