George Williams (lawyer)
Encyclopedia
George John Williams AO
is the Anthony Mason Professor
of Law and Foundation Director of the Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Public Law at the Faculty of Law
, University of New South Wales
, and is also an Australian Research Council
Laureate
Fellow
.
He appeared in the High Court of Australia
as counsel in Lange v Australian Broadcasting Corporation
(on freedom of speech
), the Hindmarsh Island Bridge Case
(on freedom from racial discrimination) and Plaintiff S157/2002 v Cth
(on review of government action and the rule of law
) and in the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal of Fiji, including in Republic of Fiji v Prasad (on the legality of the 2000 coup).
In 2008, Williams was a delegate in the governance stream at the Australia 2020 Summit
. In 2005, he chaired the Victorian Human Rights Consultation Committee that led to the enactment of the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities
. He also writes for The Sydney Morning Herald
online
vehicle, the National Times.
In early 2010, Williams unsuccessfully stood for Australian Labor Party
preselection in the House of Representatives Division of Fraser
.
His books include: Australian Constitutional Law and Theory: Commentary and Materials (1996, 5th edn 2010), with Tony Blackshield; Labour Law and the Constitution (1998); Human Rights under the Australian Constitution (1999).
On 13 June 2011, Williams was named an Officer of the Order of Australia
for distinguished service to the law in the fields of anti-terrorism, human rights and constitutional law as an academic, author, adviser and public commentator.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
is the Anthony Mason Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of Law and Foundation Director of the Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Public Law at the Faculty of Law
UNSW Faculty of Law
The Faculty of Law of the University of New South Wales is a law school situated in Sydney, Australia. The Faculty is one of the most innovative and prestigious law schools in Australia....
, University of New South Wales
University of New South Wales
The University of New South Wales , is a research-focused university based in Kensington, a suburb in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
, and is also an Australian Research Council
Australian Research Council
The Australian Research Council is the Australian Government’s main agency for allocating research funding to academics and researchers in Australian universities. Its mission is to advance Australia’s capacity to undertake research that brings economic, social and cultural benefit to the...
Laureate
Laureate
In English, the word laureate has come to signify eminence or association with literary or military glory. It is also used for winners of the Nobel Prize.-History:...
Fellow
Fellow
A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
.
He appeared in the High Court of Australia
High Court of Australia
The High Court of Australia is the supreme court in the Australian court hierarchy and the final court of appeal in Australia. It has both original and appellate jurisdiction, has the power of judicial review over laws passed by the Parliament of Australia and the parliaments of the States, and...
as counsel in Lange v Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Lange v Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Lange v Australian Broadcasting Corporation 189 CLR 520 is a High Court of Australia case that deals with the implied freedom of political communication in the Australian Constitution.-Background:...
(on freedom of speech
Freedom of speech
Freedom of speech is the freedom to speak freely without censorship. The term freedom of expression is sometimes used synonymously, but includes any act of seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used...
), the Hindmarsh Island Bridge Case
Hindmarsh Island bridge controversy
The Hindmarsh Island bridge controversy was a 1990s Australian legal and political controversy that involved the clash of Indigenous Australian religious beliefs and property rights...
(on freedom from racial discrimination) and Plaintiff S157/2002 v Cth
Plaintiff S157 v The Commonwealth
- Background :The plaintiff wished to challenge a decision of the Refugee Review Tribunal denying him a protection visa. Two sections of the Migration Act 1958 purported to deny him the right to appeal the decision. The plaintiff applied to the High Court, arguing that the relevant sections did...
(on review of government action and the rule of law
Rule of law
The rule of law, sometimes called supremacy of law, is a legal maxim that says that governmental decisions should be made by applying known principles or laws with minimal discretion in their application...
) and in the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal of Fiji, including in Republic of Fiji v Prasad (on the legality of the 2000 coup).
In 2008, Williams was a delegate in the governance stream at the Australia 2020 Summit
Australia 2020 Summit
The Australia 2020 Summit was a convention, referred to in Australian media as a summit, which was held on 19-20 April 2008 in Canberra, Australia, aiming to "help shape a long term strategy for the nation's future"...
. In 2005, he chaired the Victorian Human Rights Consultation Committee that led to the enactment of the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities
Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities
The Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 is an Act of Parliament of the state of Victoria, Australia, designed to "protect and promote" human rights....
. He also writes for The Sydney Morning Herald
The Sydney Morning Herald
The Sydney Morning Herald is a daily broadsheet newspaper published by Fairfax Media in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1831 as the Sydney Herald, the SMH is the oldest continuously published newspaper in Australia. The newspaper is published six days a week. The newspaper's Sunday counterpart, The...
online
ONLINE
ONLINE is a magazine for information systems first published in 1977. The publisher Online, Inc. was founded the year before. In May 2002, Information Today, Inc. acquired the assets of Online Inc....
vehicle, the National Times.
In early 2010, Williams unsuccessfully stood for Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
preselection in the House of Representatives Division of Fraser
Division of Fraser
The Division of Fraser is an Australian Electoral Division in the Australian Capital Territory. It also covers the Jervis Bay Territory.The division was created in 1974 and is named for James Fraser, who was member for Australian Capital Territory 1951-70...
.
His books include: Australian Constitutional Law and Theory: Commentary and Materials (1996, 5th edn 2010), with Tony Blackshield; Labour Law and the Constitution (1998); Human Rights under the Australian Constitution (1999).
On 13 June 2011, Williams was named an Officer of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
for distinguished service to the law in the fields of anti-terrorism, human rights and constitutional law as an academic, author, adviser and public commentator.