On behalf of the TC Beirne School of Law, Freedom 4 Faith and Emmanuel College, you are invited to the 2014 Freedom of Religion Conference, entitled Freedom of speech, conscience and association in a religiously tolerant society.

Religious freedom is widely recognised as a fundamental right protected by international human rights documents. Despite this, academics, legal experts and policy makers continue to debate the legitimate scope of this right and related rights. The purpose of this conference is to develop and articulate the case for freedom of religion, speech, conscience and association, and to explore what may be regarded as lawful limitations of these freedoms, in a multicultural society.

Date: 31 October 2014
Time: 8:30am - 5:30pm
Venue: Emmanuel College (within The University of Queensland)
Sir William MacGregor Drive, St Lucia QLD

The event will feature papers presented by leading experts in this field, including a keynote address by the Commonwealth Attorney-General, Senator Hon George Brandis QC, and papers presented by the Hon Justice Debra Mullins of the Queensland Supreme Court, Neville Rochow QC, Associate Professor Carlos Bernal-Pulido, Dr Joel Harrison, Dr John Shellard, Elizabeth Shalders and Rev Qaiser Julius.

This event is accredited for CPD purposes by the Queensland Bar Association (Code: FFFC1410). Participants will accrue 1 CPD point per hour of attendance in the non-allocated strand unless otherwise advised.

Information correct as at date of event.

  • Senator Hon George Brandis QC, Attorney-General, Minister for the Arts, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate
    – Keynote Address on Freedom of Religion
  • Neville Rochow QC, Howard Zelling Chambers, South Australian Bar
    Near and (some not yet) Present Dangers: Challenges to Freedom of Speech, Conscience and Association
  • Dr Joel Harrison, Macquarie Law School
    Ordering Public Life: Anti-Discrimination Law and Religious Associations
  • Dr John Shellard, consulting analyst at ANUedge
    Why Toleration is Better than Tolerance
  • Hon Justice Debra Mullins, Supreme Court of Queensland
    Anti-Discrimination Laws in a Religiously Tolerant Society
  • Elizabeth Shalders, Moores Legal, Melbourne
    The Use of Taxation Powers in Constraining Freedom of Association in Australia
  • Associate Professor Carlos Bernal-Pulido, Macquarie Law School
    Conscience Clauses and Conscience Refusals in Comparative Perspective
  • Rev Qaiser Julius, Director, Open Theological Seminary, Lahore
    The Experience of Minorities under Pakistan’s Blasphemy Laws: National Challenges and International Responses

Time

Event

 8:30 - 9:00

Registration

 9:00 - 9:10

Welcome

 9:10 - 9:50

Senator Hon George Brandis QC, Attorney-General, Minister for the Arts, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate
– Keynote Address on Freedom of Religion

9:50 - 10:30

Neville Rochow QC, Howard Zelling Chambers, South Australian Bar
Near and (some not yet) Present Dangers: Challenges to Freedom of Speech, Conscience and Association

10:30 - 11:00

Morning tea

11:00 - 11:40

Dr Joel Harrison, Macquarie Law School
Ordering Public Life: Anti-Discrimination Law and Religious Associations

11:40 - 12:20

Dr John Shellard, consulting analyst at ANUedge
Why Toleration is Better than Tolerance

12:20 – 12:50

Panel

12:50 - 1:50

Lunch

1:50 - 2:30

Hon Justice Debra Mullins, Supreme Court of Queensland
Anti-Discrimination Laws in a Religiously Tolerant Society

2:30 - 3:10

Elizabeth Shalders, Moores Legal, Melbourne
The Use of Taxation Powers in Constraining Freedom of Association in Australia

3:10 – 3:40

Afternoon tea

3:40 – 4:20

Associate Professor Carlos Bernal-Pulido, Macquarie Law School
Conscience Clauses and Conscience Refusals in Comparative Perspective

4:20 – 5:00

Rev Qaiser Julius, Director, Open Theological Seminary, Lahore
The Experience of Minorities under Pakistan’s Blasphemy Laws: National Challenges and International Responses

5:00 – 5:30

Panel

Please quote UQ to receive preferential rates. You can also view directions to UQ St Lucia Campus and a map of Emmanuel College.

Inn on the Park
21 Patrick Lane, Toowong
07 3870 9222
stay@innonthepark.com.au
http://www.innonthepark.com.au/
4.3 km to the University of Queensland

Jephson Hotel
63 Jephson Street (Cnr Sherwood Rd) Toowong QLD 4066
07 3736 4400
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http://www.jephsonhotel.com.au
2.8 km to the University of Queensland