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2019 Conference - Melbourne
The 31st national conference of The Samuel Griffith Society was held in Melbourne in 2019. For the fourth consecutive year, it set a new record as the Society's best-attended conference to date.
Key speakers included a Justice of the High Court of Australia, a former Governor of Victoria, and a former Premier of Victoria.
A copy of the program can be found here.
The following papers were presented at the conference:
The Hon. Geoffrey Nettle, AC
Sir Harry Gibbs: A Legal Conservative
Geoffrey Blainey, AC
Wandering Around Australia's Democratic History
The Hon. John Brumby, AO
Fixing Federalism: A Federation Fit for Purpose in a Changing and Challenging World
Cheryl Saunders, AO
The Strange (Continuing) Story of Commonwealth Authority to Spend
Peter Dunning, QC
Spence v Queensland: Calibrating Australian Federalism for a Second Century
Judith Sloan
The Erosion of the Economic Benefits of Federalism
Judith Brett
Alfred Deakin and Federation
The Hon. Alex Chernov, AC, QC
The Role and Appointment of Australian Governors
Alister Henskens, SC, MP
Can there be a Plebiscite on the Road to a Republic?
Senator, The Hon. Eric Abetz
An Indigenous Voice: Some Observations
The Hon. Nicholas Hasluck, AM, QC
The Role of Quangos
Michael Sexton, SC
Freedom of Speech
Peter Ridd
A Sad Tale of Our Intolerant and Untrustworthy Universities
Dr. Murray Cranston
Judicial Appointments in the United States of America
The Hon. John Middleton
The Life of the Trial Judge: What Has or Is Changing?
The Hon. Ian Callinan, AC, QC
Concluding Remarks
Guest Speakers appearing at the 2019 Samuel Griffith Society Conference
Senator the Honourable Eric Abetz, Senator for the State of Tasmania
Professor Geoffrey Blainey, AC Australia’s Pre-Eminent Historian
Professor Judith Brett Emeritus Professor of Politics, La Trobe University
Honourable John Brumby, AO Former Premier of Victoria
Honourable Alex Chernov, AC, QC Former Governor of Victoria
Dr Murray Cranston Senior Political Adviser
Peter Dunning, QC Former Solicitor General for the State of Queensland
Alister Henskens, SC, MP Cabinet Secretary for New South Wales
Alan Jones, AO Australia’s Highest Rating Broadcaster
Honourable John Middleton Justice of the Federal Court of Australia
Honourable Geoffrey Nettle, AC Justice of the High Court of Australia
Professor Peter Ridd Former Professor, James Cook University
Laureate Professor Cheryl Saunders, AO Emeritus Professor of Law, University of Melbourne
Michael Sexton, SC Solicitor General for the State of New South Wales
Professor Judith Sloan Professor of Economics, University of Melbourne