2025 Seminar Series

The seminar series seeks to bring together leading scholars, practitioners and members of the judiciary in Queensland and from abroad to discuss key issues of contemporary significance.

Seminar 1: Frail Lawyers and Their Fearless Logics: What Drives Ethical Error?

DateThursday, 21 August
Speaker

Professor Richard Moorhead, University of Exeter  

CommentatorMr Richard Douglas KC 
ChairMr Graham Gibson KC
Abstract

As the Robodebt scandal has illustrated, lawyers’ ethics are important. This paper will show why it is not just bad apples or overweening clients that mean all lawyers are at risk of ethical blunders. Traditional notions of lawyers’ ethics  - ideas such as fearlessness, zeal and cab rank neutrality - will be examined, as will the human frailties that all humans, even (perhaps especially) lawyers face. We will consider how such ideas can drive lawyers towards disaster. Examples will be taken from the United Kingdom Post Office private prosecution scandal, but also elsewhere. I will suggest that traditional notions of ethics are flawed; that rather than protecting the rule of law, they render it vulnerable. 

 

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Seminar 2: Contemporary Issues in the Australian Legal System

DateThursday, 4 September (TBC)
SpeakerThe Hon Justice Stephen Gageler AC, High Court of Australia
CommentatorTBC
ChairTBC
Abstract

The Honourable Justice Stephen Gageler will present his thoughts on contemporary challenges faced by the Australian Legal System. The floor will be open for questions and discussion.

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Seminar 3: A Second Chamber for the Queensland Parliament: Four Reasons, Four Features and Four Design Principles

DateThursday, 23 October
SpeakerProfessor Nicholas  Aroney (The University of Queensland) 
Commentator Mr Neil Laurie LLB LLM (HONS) MBA, The Clerk of The Parliament (Queensland)
ChairTBC
Abstract

This paper will present four arguments for the restoration of an elected second chamber in Queensland and propose four corresponding qualities that such a chamber should possess. These four arguments and four features concern: (1) better democratic representation, (2) enhanced public deliberation, (3) improved legislative procedures, and (4) increased scrutiny of government. In doing so, the paper will consider four key principles of constitutional design, namely democratic legitimacy, effective governance, the separation of powers, and government accountability. 

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Seminar 4: Sexual Offences – Has the Pendulum Swung too Far?

DateThursday, November 13
SpeakerMr Terry O’Gorman 
Commentator

Professor Heather Douglas, The University of Melbourne

Chair

Her Honour Judge Deborah Richards, President, Children’s Court of Queensland

Abstract

Over time, protections designed to minimise miscarriages of justice in sexual assault cases have been dismantled. Recent changes to the protected counselling regime have significantly denied defendants access to relevant information relating to the credibility of complainants. In September 2024, additional prosecution powers in sexual assault cases were introduced, commencing on 25th May 2025. In early February 2025, the Australian Law Reform Commission handed its Report on Justice Responses to Sexual Violence to the Federal Attorney-General, Mark Dreyfus.  This paper addresses the current state of the law regarding the prosecution of sexual assault cases, asking the question whether the pendulum has swung too far in trying to balance the rights of complainants in sex cases with minimising (and hopefully preventing) miscarriages of justice for accused persons.   

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