Courting Blakness Symposium

Watch video of seminar

Convenor:

Professor Jennifer Corrin, Director, Centre for Public, International and Comparative Law Professor, T.C. Beirne School of Law, The University of Queensland. Professor Corrin convened the session on behalf of the Centre for Public, International and Comparative Law and UQ Solomon Island Partnership.

Chairperson:

Mr Sean Dorney was Chair of the Panel.

First Speaker:

UQ’s McCaughey Professor of Pacific and Australian History Clive Moore spoke about the history surrounding Blackbirding.

Second Speaker:

Legal Issues Professor Reid Mortensen from the University of Southern Queensland spoke about the use of the language of slavery in two prosecutions for blackbirding in Australian courts in the 1860s – those relating to the voyages of the Daphne and the Jason. While at times the language of slavery was used by colonial judges, until its use was abandoned in political circles it also impeded a more effective regulation of the indentured labour trade.

Third Speaker:

Mr Paul Malai Mae, a doctoral student in the TC Beirne School of Law, from Solomon Islands, spoke about community experiences relating to Blackbirding.