The Changing Human Rights Landscape

2009 Castan Centre Conference Program

8.30 am - 8.50 am: Registration

Welcome

Professor Sarah Joseph, Director, Castan Centre for Human Rights Law

Domestic Human Rights

9.00 am - 10.30 am:
Session 1 -  A National Consultation on Human Rights

The Hon. Robert McClelland, Commonwealth Attorney-General
'Promotion and protection of human rights'

Dr Ben Saul, Director, Sydney Centre for International Law, University of Sydney
'Towards an Australian Bill of Rights: Why politicians have too much power and judges have too little'

10.30 am - 11.00 am: Morning tea

11.00 am - 12.15 pm:
Session 2 - A Health Check on the Victorian Charter of Rights and Responsibilities

The Hon. Justice Chris Maxwell, President, Court of Appeal
'The Victorian Charter so far: a judge's perspective'

Mr Alistair Pound, Barrister and co-author of  'An Annotated Guide to the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities'.
'The Victorian Charter so far: a lawyer's perspective'

12.15 pm - 1.15 pm: Lunch

International Human Rights

1.15 pm - 2.30 pm:  
Session 3 - Australian Re-engagement with International Law

The Hon Robert Hill, former Australian Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations
'Howard to Rudd: Australia's record of international engagement'

Professor Hilary Charlesworth, Director, Centre for International Governance and Justice, Australian National University
'Assessing Australia on the world stage'

2.30 pm - 3.00 pm: Afternoon tea

3.00 pm - 4.15 pm:
Session 4 -  International Law Update

Professor Chris Sidoti, former Australian Human Rights Commissioner, Visiting Professor Griffith University, Visiting Professor, University of Western Sydney
'The UN Human Rights Council - The story so far'

Professor Sarah Joseph, Director, Castan Centre for Human Rights Law
'International human rights cases 2008-2009'

4.15 pm - 4.30 pm: Wrap up