Public Law Events Roundup May 2022
Welcome to the May edition of the AUSPUBLAW Australian Public Law Events Roundup. We would firstly like to draw your attention to the following calls for papers and nominations:
Call for Papers - Roundtable in Cordoba, Argentina “Political Sentiments and Moral Emotions in Constitutional Law”
International Association of Constitutional Law
CfP closes: 30 May 2022
Round table date: 10 August 2022
Round table location: In-person in Córdoba, ArgentinaBeyond practical reason and/or economic rationality do any other human distinctive features reflect on constitutional law? Is it possible to identify any range of moral feelings and/or emotional mind-states as normatively relevant in terms of constitutional decision-making? Do atavistic political sentiments still count? Why do similar written constitutions – with almost identical provisions – not exhibit similar levels of compliance?
Moral feelings conveying the pursuit of happiness, trust, loyalty, honor, decency, solidarity, and/or tolerance have been either plausible or concealed categories randomly harnessed by constitutionalism. Beyond strategic calculation and sheer rationality, moral feelings are likely to provide justifying reasons for State regulations and compelling law enforcement. In short, the conference’s goal is to analyze how and why constitutional emotional responses such as civic trust, fraternity, tolerance, altruism, constitutional patriotism, etc., have thrived and become the cement of peaceful coexistence and social cooperation in some polities.
Interested parties should submit their CV (no longer than one page) in English, French, or Spanish, along with an abstract of their paper (no longer than 500 words) by May 30, 2022 via email to iacl.aidc.cordoba.rt@gmail.com (please use the subject line ”IACL-AIDC call for papers RT.ARG”). The broad subject-matter is ‘How do reasons and emotions reinforce and/or undermine constitutional goals?’
There is no cost either for participation or for submitting a paper. Paper presenters and participants, in general, must bear the expenses of their travels, meals, and accommodation.
For more information, click here.
Call for Nominations: The Saunders Prize for Excellence in Scholarship in Constitutional Law
The AACL is delighted to announce its call for nominations for the annual Saunders Prize. The Saunders Prize is named in honour of Laureate Professor Cheryl Saunders AO, in recognition of her exceptional eminence in constitutional law and her leadership in the creation of the AACL. The Prize will be awarded to the author of an article or note on a subject of constitutional law, published in an Australian legal journal in the preceding calendar year, which, in the opinion of the Panel, reflects the highest standards of research and scholarship.
The AACL is pleased to announce that the winner of the Saunders Prize in 2022 will be awarded $1000.
The rules governing the Saunders Prize are available here.
Nominations should take the following form:
- A nominated article should be sent by way of e-mail attachment to the AACL Council at secretariat@aacl.asn.au (with the subject line “Saunders Prize”).
- The article should be in the form in which it was published. Manuscripts in other forms will not be accepted.
-In addition, a covering letter should be included containing the details of the nominating party and (if different) the article’s author. The covering letter should also confirm that the article was published in an Australian legal journal in 2021.
- An article may be nominated by an individual or by a law journal. However, each individual and each law journal is limited to one nomination.
Nominations must be received by 20 June 2022.
Call for Papers - IACL Round Table in Ankara, Turkey on Environment, Climate Change and Constitutionalism
International Association of Constitutional Law
CfP closes: 1 July 2022
Round table dates: 20-21 October 2022
Round table location: In-person at the Union of Turkish Bar Associations Conference Hall, İlhami Soysal Sokak No. 3, 06230, Balgat, Ankara, TurkeyThis roundtable addresses increasing national and global effects of the climate crisis and the socio-ecological problems it creates from the perspective of constitutional law. On the 50th Anniversary of the landmark United Nations Stockholm Conference that represents the first international attempt to address the challenge of preserving and enhancing the human environment, and the 52nd Anniversary of Earth Day that marks the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970, the world's leading Constitutional Law and Environmental Law experts will come together in Ankara to discuss issues concerning rights and freedoms; equality and justice; sustainable development, constitutional democracy and adjudication resulting from the environment and climate change.
The roundtable invites scholarly proposals addressing “Climate Change and Freedoms”, “Climate Justice and Sustainable Development”, “Rule of Law, Welfare State and Environmental State”, “Constitutional Democracy and Environmental Rights'', “The Rights of the Future Generations and Global Constitutionalism”.
Interested scholars are invited to submit a CV and an abstract no longer than 500 words by July 1, 2022 to selin.esen71@gmail.com and josemar@unam.mx (please use “CfP: Environment, Climate Change and Constitutionalism” as the subject line of your e-mail).
There is no cost to participate in the conference. The conveners will provide accommodations (for up to three nights) and meals to paper presenters. Paper presenters are responsible for their own travel and incidental expenses.
For more information, click here.
Call for Papers - Teaching Material: The Pedagogy of Political Economy in Australian Law Schools
Julius Stone Institute of Jurisprudence, University of Sydney Law School
CfP closes: 30 June 2022
Symposium dates: 29-30 November 2022
Symposium location: In-personAs legal academics, we believe that providing students with the tools to understand and critique the legal arrangements underpinning Australia’s political economy should be a central goal of legal education. Many young adults feel excluded from old expectations of prosperity and perpetual growth, and from a political economic system built upon them. At the same time, legal education leaves many students dissatisfied, as it frequently does not provide them with the tools and vocabularies they seek to articulate their frustrations and work toward their resolution.
We are particularly interested in contributions that explore:
- The history of critical legal education in Australia from a political economic perspective
- Indigenous legal orders and the political economy of settler law
- The impact of national and international political economy on Australian legal education (content and structure)
- Contemporary examples of courses that adopt a progressive political economic lens
- Practical recommendations on how to incorporate progressive insights on political economy into the Priestley Eleven and other commonly compulsory courses (for example, legal theory or international law)
- Comparative insights, especially with other settler colonies/common law jurisdictions/Pacific states.Abstracts of no more than 250 words should be submitted by 30 June 2022 to Ntina Tzouvala (ntina.tzouvala@anu.edu.au). Please write ‘Teaching Material’ in the subject line.
Limited financial assistance may be available upon request, and priority will be given to casual academic workers.
For more information, click here.
Remember, if you have an AUSPUBLAW opportunity, conference or significant public lecture that you would like included in this roundup, please contact us at auspublaw@unsw.edu.au. The roundup is published once a month on the first business day of the month, so please let us know in time for that deadline. We are grateful to Kelly Yoon for compiling this roundup.
Vote for Women
Centre for Ideas, University of New South Wales
Date: 3 May 2022
Time: 6:30pm-7:45pm (AEST)
Location: In-person at the Roundhouse, University of New South Wales, Sydney120 years ago, Australian women were amongst the first in the world to gain both the right to vote and the right to be elected to parliament – with Indigenous women being made to wait another long 60 years. But it took roughly 40 years before a woman was actually elected to federal Parliament and in 2022, even though there are more women in Parliament than ever before, women only make up a third of our elected representatives.
The steady march towards equality has gained increasing momentum in recent years. Although each passing decade has seen women take huge strides in politics, toxic workplace culture, sexual assault, and scandals continue to cast a shadow over Canberra – rendering public life an unattractive pursuit for younger women.
As back-to-back budgets continue to overlook women’s issues – childcare, reproductive health, equitable pay, safe and secure housing – it's imperative our front bench starts looking more like modern Australia. With just a few weeks until Australians take to the polling booths, how can we ensure more women get a seat at the table?
Join Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi, author and former Liberal turned Independent MP Julia Banks, and 2022 Independent candidate Georgia Steele for a vibrant discussion about the future of equal representation in Australian politics, chaired by UNSW Sydney’s Rosalind Dixon.
For more information, and to register, click here.
Distinguished Alumni Series: In Conversation with the Hon Andrew Bell, Chief Justice of NSW Supreme Court
University of Sydney Law School
Date: 4 May 2022
Time: 6:00pm-7:00pm (AEST)
Location: In-person at Lecture Theatre 101, Level 1, New Law Building F10A, Campderdown Campus University of SydneyJoin us for this special ‘in conversation’ event with University of Sydney Law School alumnus and the newly appointed 18th Chief Justice of NSW, the Hon Andrew Bell, and alumna Nicole Abadee.
The Chief Justice will reflect on his life and times at the Law School, as a judge’s associate, at the University of Oxford, NSW Bar and on the NSW Court of Appeal. His Honour will also discuss how the legal profession has changed, the enduring value of a law degree and where it might lead you and what makes a good law teacher – and judge.
For more information, and to register, click here.
Creative Thinking: A Tradition of International Legal Scholarship at ANU
Centre of International and Public Law and Centre for International Governance and Justice, Australian National University
Date: 5 May 2022
Time: 5:00-7:00pm (AEST)
Location: Online or In-person at Phillipa Weeks Staff Library, ANU College of Law, Building 7, Room 7.4.1.The Australian National University boasts a long tradition of creative international legal scholarship. It is, for one, the only institution that counts among its ranks-past and present-three female scholars who have been awarded the prestigious Certificate of Merit for a preeminent contribution to creative scholarship of the American Society of International Law. These are: Judge Hilary Charlesworth (2001), Professor Anthea Roberts (2018), and Associate Professor Ntina Tzouvala (2022).
For this hybrid event, the Centre for International and Public Law and the Centre for International Governance and Justice join forces to celebrate this unique achievement. The three speakers will converse on matters of creative legal scholarship, women in academia, legacies, and prospects.
For more information, and to register, click here.
CCCS Global Public Law Seminar Series - ‘Climate Change Litigation: Sharma, Smith and Beyond’
Centre for Comparative Constitutional Studies, Melbourne Law School
Date: 5 May 2022
Time: 5:30-7:00pm (AEST)
Location: OnlineWith the challenge of climate change taking on an ever-increasing sense of immediacy, and a growing concern that governments and corporations have been too slow to act, citizens are turning to the courts for relief. In this seminar leading experts in civil liability, public law and environmental law will consider recent important decisions from the courts in Australia, New Zealand and comparable jurisdictions, discussing the prospects and limits of climate change litigation, and seeking to place litigation in the context of other possible regulatory responses to climate change.
Professor Jason Varuhas (University of Melbourne) will consider the Full Federal Court of Australia’s decision in Minister for the Environment v Sharma, in which a group of children argued a Government Minister owed them a duty to take reasonable steps to avoid exacerbating risks of climate change. Professor Geoff McLay (Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington) will consider the forthcoming New Zealand Supreme Court case of Smith v Fonterra Co-operative Group Ltd, in which the plaintiff, an Indigenous elder, seeks to establish that a corporation owes a duty of care in relation to climate. Professor Liz Fisher (University of Oxford) will offer reflections on the turn to litigation, and place emerging legal trends in broader perspective, addressing the topic of ‘Climate Change, Accountability, and Adjudication’.
For more information, and to register, click here.
JSI Seminar: Louise Richardson-Self and Gabrielle Mardon, “Stuck in Suffering: A Philosophical Exploration of Violence”
Julius Stone Institute of Jurisprudence, University of Sydney Law School
Date: 5 May 2022
Time: 6:00-7:30pm (AEST)
Location: Online or In-person at University of Sydney Law School, Law Lounge, Level 1, Law Annexe, New Law Building F10A, Eastern Avenue, Camperdown, NSW 2006This paper considers and evaluates some of the elastic applications of the term “violence”.
Some of the most well-known applications are structural, symbolic, epistemic, psychosocial, and linguistic violence. Should these phenomena be understood as violence-proper or are these merely provocative hyperbole?
Some scholars are openly resistant to these elastic applications, arguing that calling these phenomena ‘violence’ is no more than conceptual carelessness.
The question that interests Louise Richardson-Self and Gabrielle Mardon is why people continue to be drawn to the image of violence to typify certain phenomena that cause suffering. They identify that it is the temporal extension (i.e., the experiential duration) of the experience of stuckedness in suffering that unifies these conditions. In close, they offer some reflections on the relationship of law to (what is called) violence and where it can mitigate stuckedness.
For more information, and to register, click here.
Public Institutions, Accountability, and Sexual Violence
Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Law, UNSW Law & Justice; and Australian Human Rights Institute, UNSW
Date: 6 May 2022
Time: 1:00-2:00pm (AEST)
Location: OnlineThe last few years have forced a major reckoning in our understanding and approach to issues of sexual violence and harassment in all areas of Australian society, including in our highest public institutions – from the High Court to the Commonwealth Parliament. Part of that reckoning is also a debate about how institutional norms and so as to provide a safer workplace for female parliamentarians, parliamentary staff, and those working in the parliamentary service. Most notably, the Jenkins Report called for a range of reforms along these lines. In this seminar, we bring together leading scholars and practitioners in the field, including UNSW Professors Gabrielle Appleby and Rosalind Dixon and Research Director of the Centre of Public Integrity, Dr Catherine Williams, to explore these reforms, their logic and likely effect, as well as their prospects for adoption now and after the next election. The event is co-hosted by the Australian Human Rights Institute and chaired by its Director, Professor Justine Nolan.
For more information, and to register, click here.
The Struggle for Identity in Exile: Refugee Protection Challenges in India
Peter McMullin Centre on Statelessness, Melbourne Law School
Date: 11 May 2022
Time: 5:00-6:00pm (AEST)
Location: OnlinePart of the Refugees, Citizenship and Statelessness: Asia in Focus Seminar Series
India has long adopted a paradoxical approach towards refugees. Despite hosting over 200,000 refugees within its borders, it has not signed the Refugee Convention and nor does it have a domestic asylum framework. Refugee protection in India has traditionally been based on arbitrary executive policies, complementary legislation and judicial pronouncements. Further, governmental policies on refugee protection are almost always subject to the political compulsions of the day and are often at odds with India’s historical practice and established jurisprudence with respect to refugees. The lack of legal identity remains the root cause of refugees’ heightened vulnerabilities as it exposes them to arbitrary detention and deportations even after the grant of asylum. In this challenging environment, upholding the human rights of this population, in line with India’s Constitutional values and international commitments, has become increasingly difficult.
This seminar will examine the various challenges that legal practitioners and refugee advocates face in advancing refugee rights in India while also highlighting some of the innovative legal strategies and tools that have been devised over the years to build a protection framework for refugees in the subcontinent.
Presenter: Roshni Shanker, Founder and Executive Director, Migration and Asylum Project
For more information, and to register, click here.
ANU College of Law Research Showcase Series 2022: Moeen Cheema
Australian National University College of Law
Date: 11 May 2022
Time: 5:30-7:00pm (AEST)
Location: Online or In-person at Phillipa Weeks Staff Library, ANU College of Law, Building 7, Room 7.4.1.The inaugural event in the 2022 ANU College of Law Research Showcase Series features Associate Professor Moeen Cheema, who will speak about his book Courting Constitutionalism: The Politics of Public Law and Judicial Review in Pakistan (Cambridge University Press, 2021).
With an introduction by Dean and Deputy Vice Chancellor International Strategy Professor Sally Wheeler OBE, MRIA, FAcSS FAAL and chaired by Associate Professor Will Bateman, Associate Dean of Research, this hybrid event will be of particular relevance to those interested in law and politics of Pakistan or broader South and South-East Asia, socio-legal scholarship or law and development.
Described as a ‘beautifully written and meticulously researched book’ by Professor Peter Cane and released to general critical acclaim, Courting Constitutionalism situates the jurisprudence of the superior courts in Pakistan in the context of constitutional politics, evolution of state structures and broader social transformations.
For more information, and to register, click here.
In Conversation with Veronica Gorrie
Indigenous Law and Justice Hub, Melbourne Law School
Date: 11 May 2022
Time: 5:30-7:00pm (AEST)
Location: Online or In-person at Law G08, Law Building (106), Melbourne Law SchoolJoin the Indigenous Law and Justice Hub for a night of black excellence, as we hear Gunai/Kurnai woman Veronica Gorrie in conversation with Dr Eddie Cubillo, to discuss Veronica’s memoir Black and Blue: A Memoir of Racism and Resilience.
Black and Blue tells a story of growing up as an Aboriginal woman in Victoria, sharing experiences of racism and violence, and how Gorrie drew on these experiences to seek to create change for Indigenous people over her decade long career in the police force. This powerful memoir explores themes of justice, safety, policing and racism, as well as the profound challenges of seeking to create change from within institutions, which are of great importance to all members of the MLS community.
A pre-lecture drinks will be hosted at 5:30pm, with the event to commence at 6:00pm.
For more information, and to register, click here.
What is Law? A Masterclass by Associate Professor Joshua Neoh
ANU College of Law
Date: 17 May 2022
Time: 5:00pm (AEST)
Location: OnlineLaw affects every aspect of our lives, but have you ever wondered about its origins and its evolution throughout history? Take a journey into jurisprudence with Associate Professor Joshua Neoh as he traces the philosophical roots of law and offers a deeper look at legal theory. This webinar will also introduce you to the degree programs at the ANU College of Law and preview student life at Australia’s national law school.
For more information, and to register, click here.
UQLS x Hall & Wilcox Naida Haxton Lecture
University of Queensland Law Society
Date: 17 May 2022
Time: 6:00-9:00pm (AEST)
Location: Auditorium, Level 7, Queensland Brain Institute (QBI), UQ St LuciaCoordinated by The University of Queensland Law Society (UQLS), the annual Naida Haxton Lecture is one of the main events on the Law Society’s calendar and provides an exciting opportunity to explore and discuss legal advocacy and Queensland’s legal history with a prominent member of the judiciary.
This year's guest speaker is the Hon Chief Justice Helen Bowskill, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Queensland.
This Lecture has been held annually since 2018, and is named in honour of Ms Naida Haxton, an alumnus of the UQ School of Law, who was the first woman to practise as a barrister in Queensland.
Please arrive at 6:00pm for a 6:30pm start. Refreshments and drinks will be offered following the Lecture.
Tickets are available to all UQLS members, alumni and staff. Please register by 15 May 2022.
For more information, and to register, click here.
2022 Sir Kenneth Bailey Memorial Lecture: Marching in the Rear and Limping a Little? International Law’s Response to the Development of Autonomous Weapons and Cyber Capabilities
Melbourne Law School
Date: 24 May 2022
Time: 6:00-7:00pm (AEST)
Location: Law G08, Law Building (106), Melbourne Law SchoolThroughout history, technological changes have reshaped the character of warfare. In some instances, major developments in military technology have precipitated changes in the law that governs warfare. Over the past decade, major debates about the adequacy of the currently legal regulation of armed conflict have focused on the impact of two technological shifts – the increased autonomy in weapon systems and the proliferation of cyber capabilities.
Despite their interconnectedness, these debates have proceeded in different fora and along rather different trajectories. At the same time, both debates have highlighted the challenges that the international legal system faces when dealing with technological change in the peace and security context. This lecture seeks to provide a general account of the similarities and differences of these two regulatory debates, and what these might mean for the future of the law of armed conflict and arms control law.
Presenter: Associate Professor Rain Liivoja, Law and the Future of War Research Group
For more information, and to register, click here.
What Goes Where? A Comparative Discussion of the Legislative Puzzle
Australian Law Reform Commission
Date: 24 May 2022
Time: 4:30pm (AEST)
Location: OnlineAs the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) moves forward with its current inquiry into the simplification of corporations and financial services legislation, it is turning its attention to regulatory design and the hierarchy of laws. Relevant questions include: How should the statutory and regulatory framework be designed to support complex areas such as financial services? Where should the law be located to achieve coherence and navigability? If the law needs detail to function, whose job should it be to provide it?
Join the ALRC as it hosts a panel of international experts from Hong Kong, New Zealand, Singapore, and the UK to discuss these and related issues.
Chair: The Hon Justice Craig Colvin, Part-time Commissioner, Australian Law Reform Commission and Judge, Federal Court of Australia
Panellists:
- Professor Julia Black CBE, Strategic Director of Innovation and Professor of Law, London School of Economics and Political Science
- Ross Carter, Parliamentary Counsel, New Zealand Parliamentary Counsel Office
- Professor Hans Tjio, CJ Koh Professor and Director, EW Barker Centre for Law & Business, National University of Singapore
- Professor Wai Yee Wan, Associate Dean (Research and Internationalisation) and Professor, School of Law, City University of Hong KongFor more information, and to register, click here.
Review of Non-Statutory Government Action
Australian Academy of Law
Date: 24 May 2022
Time: 5:30pm (AEST)
Location: Online or In-person at Supreme Court of South Australia, The Mary Kitson Conference RoomThis free public event will consider the extent to which the exercise of non-statutory government powers are reviewable, and on what basis. The speakers will trace the changes in approach over recent times in Australia and with reference to the position in some overseas jurisdictions.
Registration is essential and the in-person audience is limited to 50. Refreshments will be served at the conclusion of the discussion.
This event will also be streamed. A link will be sent to all registrants.
Chair: The Hon Justice Chris Bleby, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court of South Australia
Speakers:
- The Hon Alan Robertson SC, formerly a judge of the Federal Court of Australia, President of the Australian Academy of Law
- Mike Wait SC, Solicitor-General for South AustraliaFor more information, and to register, click here.
Australian Academy of Law Emerging Scholars Events 2022: Technology, Regulation and Politics
Australian Academy of Law
Date: 25 May 2022
Time: 1:00-2:00pm (AWST); 3:00-4:00pm (AEST)
Location: Online or In-person at BCG Centre Conference Room, Ground Floor, 28 The Esplanade, PerthThe Australian Academy of Law is pleased to host this free public event, chaired by Professor Erika Techera, UWA Law School.
- Dr Michael Wilson will present on: 'The problem of going dark and the politics of end-to-end encryption'.
- Helen Stamp (PhD candidate, UWA) will present on 'Reckless tolerance: The importance of corporate criminal accountability for harm caused by autonomous digital systems'.
- James Carpenter (PhD candidate, Curtin University), will present on 'What Happens when Autonomously-Driven Vehicles Cause Injuries? The Implementation of Regulatory Frameworks to Address the Issue of Liability and Compensation.'Registration is essential. For more information, and to register, click here.
Public Law Values, Accountability and National Security
Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Public Law, UNSW
Date: 27 May 2022
Time: 12:30 - 2:00pm (AEST)
Location: OnlineAs the world has faced new challenges, the powers of our national security agencies have greatly increased. But have the forms of oversight kept pace? Are our national accountability processes fit for purpose when it comes to national security? In this unique online seminar, hosted by the G+T Centre for Public Law at UNSW, we explore these questions with leading experts in public law and counter-terrorism.
Speakers:
- Former Justice Michael Kirby AC
- Scientia Professor, Deputy Vice-Chancellor George Williams AO, UNSW
- Dr Keiran Hardy, Griffith University
- Dr Rebecca Ananian-Welsh, University of QueenFor more information, and to register, click here.
29th Annual ANZSIL Conference: International Law and Global Inter-connectedness
Australian and New Zealand Society of International Law
Date: 30 June - 2 July 2022
Location: Online or In-person at Australian National University, CanberraThe events of 2020 and 2021 continue to emphasise that human inter-connectedness is both granular and uneven. The COVID-19 pandemic has reminded us of the reality of our physical inter-connectedness as well as the importance of groups such as ‘essential workers’ for the continuing functioning of societies, domestic and international. The escalating climate crisis underscores our inter-connectedness with the environment; a connection that has profoundly shifted and is signalled with the recognition of the Age of the Anthropocene. Simultaneously, forms of inter-connectedness previously taken for granted, such as the global and regional mobility of individuals, goods and services, are facing unprecedented challenges.
These contexts pose significant questions for international law, international lawyers and international legal institutions. At the same time, they offer unique opportunities for re-making the international legal order. At the 29th ANZSIL Conference we encourage participants to reflect on whether and how international law shapes, undermines and re-makes inter-connectedness on a global scale.
We invite participants at the 29th ANZSIL Conference to re-evaluate the role of international law as a force in different forms of social, political and even biological connections including, for example, physical processes that tie us together, emerging regionalisms, border crossings, and transnational solidarities, exemplified by the rise of a global Black Lives Matter movement or Indigenous internationalisms.
There is a fee for this event.
For more information, and to register, click here.
ICON·S Annual Conference
ICON·S | The International Society of Public Law
Date: 4-6 July 2022
Location: Hybrid - Online and In-person at University of Wroclaw, PolandICON·S | The International Society of Public Law is pleased to announce that its 2022 Annual Conference on Global Problems and Prospects in Public Law will be held in hybrid format at the University of Wrocław in Poland on 4-6 July 2022.
The machinery of public law has been called on to help manage the COVID-19 public health crisis, and in some cases it has succeeded and in others it has not operated as hoped. The same is true of the global crisis of mass migration, the risks and opportunities in law and technology, and the current state of democracy in many corners of the world. The weight of these challenges can feel daunting. History tells us, however, that crises are also opportunities for re-thinking, and for renewal. And whether our purpose is to understand or to protest, or to unmake and re-build, public law will inevitably frame our response.
We take up four key themes in our plenary and featured panels this year: democracy, migration, public health, and technology. Questions of trust and distrust feed into broader debates about democratic backsliding and the rule of law which have become a central concern in Eastern Europe and other parts of the world. In this context, technology creates both new risks and new opportunities: the revolutions in data storage and information dissemination are manifestly double-edged swords. Trust and distrust are central, too, to how societies accommodate migrants, and to how they handle issues of public health, as the current pandemic has made all too obvious. In each of these four areas, the challenges are clear and present. But they are not just dangers. Each is a demand, and an opportunity, to rethink and rebuild key aspects of our societies in light of shared democratic ideals.
For more information, and to register, click here.
Australasian Law Academics Association (ALAA) Conference 2022
Australasian Law Academics Association; Monash Law
Date: 7-9 July 2022
Location: Online or In-person in MelbourneEvolution or Revolution? Challenging Legal Education and Scholarship
The Australian university sector is undergoing a period of significant change, providing both challenges and opportunities. Remote teaching and flexible learning have become entrenched, and we have had to grapple with new ways of working and engaging. In some places, these changes have been rapid and revolutionary, while in others they have been a slower evolution of changes and trajectories that were already taking their course.
The 2022 ALAA Conference asks us to consider whether legal education and scholarship is in a state of evolution or revolution? How is legal education and scholarship being challenged by external forces, and how are we internally challenging legal education and scholarship? What are the defining features of a 2022 law school, law teacher and law student? How can we better reflect the diverse experiences of our student cohort by recognising and redressing disadvantage, especially where this has been exacerbated in recent years? How can we better support both academics and students? How have recent challenges and opportunities presented in different legal disciplines? Which changes should we hold onto, and which should we disregard? And where is further change required, in order to maximise our potential as places of excellent learning, teaching and scholarship?
For more information, and to express your interest in attending, click here.
Religious Freedom, Religious Discrimination and the Role of Law
Bar Association of Queensland; University of Queensland; Supreme Court Library
Date: 13 October 2022
Time: 5:15-6:45pm (AEST)
Location: Banco Court, Level 3, Queen Elizabeth II Courts of Law, 415 George Street, BrisbaneReligious freedom and freedom from discrimination on the basis of religion are well-established rights in international law and many jurisdictions have a substantial case-law that examine both of these rights, including the tensions between them. While some limited forms of these rights are protected in the constitution, to date there has been relatively limited case law in Australia. With the development of statutory bills of rights and increased social tensions between secular and religious Australians, however, the law is increasingly being asked to step into conflicts that involve religion. What can we learn from the Australian case law to date and from other similar jurisdictions that can help Australian courts and legal policymakers with the complex issues that arise in this realm?
Presenter: Professor Carolyn Evans, Vice-Chancellor and President, Griffith University
Chair: The Hon. Justice Sarah Derrington, Federal Court of Australia, President, Australian Law Reform Commission
Commentator: Professor Patrick Parkinson AM, University of Queensland
For more information, and to register, click here.