Discussions

Melbourne Conversations and Future Leaders invite you to join us on Thursday 1 March at 6.00pm

Human Rights: Have We Lost Our dignity ?

Three prominent lawyers reflect on some of the critical questions of our time

Download Invitation

Speakers
Major Michael Mori
Defence counsel for Guantanamo Bay detainee David Hicks

Professor Larissa Behrendt
Professor of Law at University of Technology, Sydney

Mr Julian Burnside QC
Barrister and President of Liberty Victoria

Venue: BMW Edge, Federation Square, Cnr Flinders & Swanston Streets
Date: Thursday 1 March
Time: 6.00 – 7.30pm (doors open 5.30pm)

RSVP: rsvp@futureleaders.com.au
There is no cost to attend this event
Please arrive early as seating is limited
Kindly supported by the Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission

Major Michael Mori
US military lawyer Major Michael Mori is the defence counsel for Guantanamo Bay detainee David Hicks. An officer in the United States Marine Corps, Major Mori was appointed by the United States Department of Defence to represent David Hicks in 2003. Major Mori has since become a prominent critic of the now illegal military commissions set up to try David Hicks and other Guantanamo Bay detainees. He has spent over seven years as a military trial lawyer, including serving as senior defence counsel and civil law department head for the US Naval Legal Services Office Pacific in Japan.

Professor Larissa Behrendt
Larissa Behrendt is Professor of Law and Director of Research at the Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning at the University of Technology, Sydney. She has published on property law, indigenous rights, dispute resolution and Aboriginal women’s issues. Her book, Achieving Social Justice: Indigenous Rights and Australia’s Future was published in 2003. She won the 2002 David Uniapon Award and a 2005 Commonwealth Writer’s Prize for her novel Home. She is a Board Member of the Museum of Contemporary Art and a Director of the Sydney Writer’s Festival and the Bangarra Dance Theatre.

Julian Burnside QC
Julian Burnside is a Victorian barrister. He has acted for Ok Tedi natives against BHP, Alan Bond in fraud trials, Rose Porteous in numerous actions against Gina Rinehart, and for the Maritime Union of Australia against Patrick Stevedores. He was the Senior Counsel assisting the Australian Broadcasting Authority in the ‘Cash for Comment’ inquiry and for Liberty Victoria in the Tampa litigation. He is President of Liberty Victoria and Chair of Fortyfive Downstairs, Chunky Move and Deputy Chair of Musica Viva Australia. He is the author of Wordwatching – Fieldnotes of an Amateur Philologist and Matilda and the Dragon.

The Discussion Series aims to bring into focus significant issues for the Australian community, government and business. The Discussions are for a general audience. They also provide young people with opportunities to build on their networks and to interact with outstanding leaders and role models in Australian society.

Previous speakers include; The Hon Fred Chaney AO, The Rt Hon Sir Ninian Stephen K.G. A.K., Sir Gustav Nossal AC CBE, Professor Peter Singer, Mr Julian Burnside QC, Rev Tim Costello AO, Professor David Yencken AO, Professor Robert Manne, Mr Don Henry, Mr Alex Miller, Professor Fiona Stanley AC, Justice Michael Kirby AC, Professor Larissa Behrendt, Professor Mark Considine, Dr Tim Flannery, Mr Noel Pearson, Ms Ann Sherry AO, Dr Don Watson, Mr Robert Dessaix, Ms Ramona Koval, Ms Louise Sylvan, Dr Clive Hamilton, Professor Ian Lowe AO, The Hon. Dr Barry Jones AO, Professor Glyn Davis AC, Dr Jose Ramos Horta, Mr John Banville, Ms Hannie Rayson, Ms Dorothy Porter and Hon Justice Lex Lasry.

Previous Discussions

The Power of Ideas – How ideas serve to assist in understanding, forming & renewing Australia
Date: Tuesday 15 July 2008

Energy and Climate Change: science and technology for Australia’s future – Non–Renewable Energy: Coal, Gas, Geosequestration & Nuclear
Date: Monday 28 April 2008

Energy and Climate Change: science and technology for Australia’s future – Renewable Energy: Solar, Wind, Geo-Thermal, Bio Mass & Tidal
Date: Monday 21 April 2008

The Urgent Design Challenge – Case studies from Australian and International metropolises
Date: Thursday 14 February 2008

Art, Migration & Indigeneity – What Happens When Cultures Meet?
Date: Monday 14 January 2008

Music: Players, Passion and Politics
Date: Thursday 22 November 2007

Political Accountability – What is really going on ?
Date: Wednesday 27 June 2007

Our Future Health – The challenges for science in keeping us healthy in the 21 Century
Date: Wednesday 17 April 2007

Human Rights: Have We Lost Our dignity ? – Three prominent lawyers reflect on some of the critical questions of our time
Date: Wednesday 01 March 2007

Which Direction for Sustainability ? – Economists and Environmentalists Talking
Date: Wednesday 15th February 2007

What Difference is Australian Writing Making?
Date: Wednesday 22nd November 2006