IBA Annual Conference Sydney 2017
8 Oct - 13 Oct 2017
Room C2.4, Convention Centre, Level 2
Session information
Are bills of rights worthwhile?
Thursday 12 October (0930 - 1230)
Room C2.4, Convention Centre, Level 2
Committee(s)
IBA's Human Rights Institute
(Lead)
Description
Australia is the only country in the Commonwealth of Nations, and one of the few countries in the world, without a Bill of Rights. A former Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia, Sir Harry Gibbs, once declared: 'If society is tolerant and rational, it does not need a Bill of Rights; if it is not, no Bill of Rights will preserve it'. Is this the case in present-day Australia? What is the experience in other countries? Join a debate on this issue with a distinguished panel.
Session / Workshop Chair(s)
| Hon Justice Michael Kirby AC CMG | Former Justice of the High Court of Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Vice Chair, IBA's Human Rights Institute |
Speakers
| Hon Justice Edwin Cameron | Constitutional Court of South Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa |
| Kevin Cocks AM AM | Anti-Discrimination Commission Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Michael Sexton KC | Solicitor General's Office, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Professor Gillian D Triggs | University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Professor George Williams | University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |