The John Nethercote Prize in Australian Constitutional Law
The 2025 John Nethercote Prize in Australian Constitutional Law Essay Competition is now open.
This essay competition offers students and young lawyers an exceptional opportunity to delve deeper into Australian constitutional law while developing their writing skills, exploring new ideas, and engaging with a topic that may not have been covered in their curriculum.
This year, the Society invites prospective entrants to submit an essay of no more than 1,500 words (excluding citations) responding to one of the following questions:
“Should the Constitution be amended to define the scope of and limitations upon the Governor-General’s reserve powers?”
“In what circumstances should the Chief Justice of Australia provide advice to the Executive Government in relation to questions of constitutional interpretation?”
In your answer, please refer to the 1975 dismissal of the Whitlam Government.
Submissions are due by email to contact@samuelgriffith.org.au no later than 5:00 pm (AEDT) on Monday 24 March 2025.
The competition is open to:
all Australian residents aged 35 years and under, and
all students enrolled in an undergraduate degree course at an Australian university (regardless of age).
Entries must include a cover page indicating the entrants full name, the university in which they are enrolled (if applicable), the title of their essay, and their essay’s word count. Entrants must also provide an email address and telephone number at which they may be contacted.
The winner of this year’s essay competition will be presented at the Society’s 2025 Conference in Perth.
First prize also includes paid flights, accommodation and admission to the conference, as well as a $500 cash prize.
Shortlisted runners-up will also be recognised at the conference, and all eligible entrants will automatically be considered for scholarships to attend.
Previous winners
2024 - Henry Palmerlee (ACT)
2023 - Henry Dudesin (ACT)
2022 - Antonia Bellas (QLD)
2019 - Catherine Bugler (QLD)
2018 - Charlotte Choi (VIC)
2017 - Edward Fowler (ACT)
2016 - Holly Gretton (WA)
J. R. Nethercote
John Raymond NETHERCOTE was educated at Blakehurst High School, Sydney and the University of Sydney (BA, 1968).
After joining the Commonwealth public service in 1970, he worked over the years for the Public Service Board, the Royal Commission on Australian Government Administration, the Public Service Commission of Canada and the Defence Review Committee.
He joined the staff of the Senate in 1987 and his assignments there included Secretary to the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Public Administration and overseeing publication of Odgers’ Australian Senate Practice (6th edition).
He also edited Parliament and Bureaucracy (1982) and was a joint editor of The Constitutional Commission and the 1988 Referendums (1988) and The Menzies Era (1995).
After his retirement from the Senate staff, he wrote extensively for The Canberra Times on public service matters and edited numerous works, including eight volumes of Upholding the Australian Constitution (2010-2017).
