Ryan Goss writes an explainer for The Conversation with his take on the fast-moving Marriage Equality plebiscite debate.
Associate Professor Ryan Goss
Associate Professor
BA(Hons I), LLB(Hons I) (UQ); BCL(Dist), DPhil (Oxon)
ANU College of Law, Bld 6, Fellows Rd, Acton ACT 2600
ANU College of Law, 5 Fellows Rd, Acton ACT 2600
Research Themes
Research Centre
Research interests
Biography
I'm a Queenslander at the ANU Law School working on constitutional law and human rights law.
My research publications include my book, Criminal Fair Trial Rights, which was longlisted for the Inner Temple Book Prize 2015, shortlisted for the Birks Prize 2015, and cited by judges in the European Court of Human Rights in 2016.
I teach Australian Public Law, International & Comparative Human Rights Law, and Comparative Civil and Political Rights. In the Australian Awards for University Teaching 2017, I received a Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning (Commonwealth Department of Education and Training, September 2017).
In service & administration, from 2019, I serve as Head of Scholars House for the Tuckwell Scholarships. Previously I was the ANU College of Law's Deputy Director (2014-2016) and Director (2017-2019) of Higher Degree Research.
I regularly write and speak in the media on a variety of public law issues, and have done consultant and pro bono research on related issues for a number of NGOs. I've also received the ANU Vice-Chancellor's Award for Public Policy and Outreach (2016) (team winner) & the ANU Media Award: Award for Improving the Quality of Public Debate (2016) (joint winner).
- BA(Hons I), LLB(Hons I) (UQ), BCL(Dist), DPhil (Oxon)
- Rhodes Scholar (Qld & Lincoln 2007)
- Ralph Chiles CBE Award for the Best Performance in Human Rights (University of Oxford, 2008)
- University Medal (Law)(UQ, 2005)
- University Medal (Arts-History)(UQ, 2004)
- Admitted as Solicitor (Qld) in 2007
Appointments
Selected
- ANU: Associate Professor & Head of Scholars House (2019- ); Senior Lecturer (2016-18); Lecturer (2013-15)
- Lincoln College, University of Oxford: Junior Research Fellow in Law (2011-13)
Significant research publications
See 'Research' tab.
View more publications on the ANU Researchers website
Read selected publications in the ANU Digital Collection
Recent news
07
Apr
2017
The Conversation is running a series of explainers on key moments in Australian political history, looking at what happened, its impact then, and its relevance to politics today.
21
Dec
2016
ANU College of Law alumna Sarah Dobbie has joined three Australian prime ministers, two high court justices and two Nobel Prize winners by becoming a recipient of the Rhodes Scholarships for Australia.
30
Nov
2016
On Friday 2 December a conference celebrating the achievements of Michael Coper will be held in the Common Room, University House. Michael is a “big picture” person whose vision has always focused on the future. The conference’s title, “New Ways Forward”, with its tone of energy and optimism, could not be more fitting for an event celebrating the career of Michael Coper and reinforcing the continuing beneficial effects of his achievements.
In the Media
1
Dec
2017
Associate Professor Ryan Goss speaks to News.com.au
15
Nov
2017
Associate Professor Ryan Goss quoted in News.com.au
13
Apr
2017
Associate Professor Ryan Goss quoted in Australian Financial Review
Past events
28
Sep
2017
12.30PM to 1.30PM CIPL International Law Lunchtime Seminar
- Dr Ryan Goss, ANU College of Law
Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights protects the right to a fair trial in civil and criminal proceedings. The Article 6 rights are the most heavily-litigated Convention rights before the European Court of Human Rights, generating a large and complex body of case law.
22
Mar
2017
5.30PM to 6.30PM Seminar
- Henry Burmester AO, QC
- Dr Ryan Goss, ANU College of Law
On 24 January 2017, the UK Supreme Court decided that Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union could not be triggered by an exercise of prerogative power. Instead, an Act of Parliament is required.
Please note, only a small selection of recent publications and activities are listed below.
View more publications on the ANU Researchers website
Read selected publications in the ANU Digital Collection
Research biography
I work on human rights law (especially ECHR/UK) and constitutional law.
This site gives a sense of some recent research projects.
Research projects & collaborations
Summary of recent research projects:
- Goss R "The Undermining of Article 6 ECHR" (forthcoming, European Yearbook of Human Rights)
- Goss R "Power & Propriety: Coper's Encounter with the Dismissal" in J Stellios (ed), Encounters with Constitutional Interpretation and Legal Education (Federation Press, 2018).
- Goss R "Out of Many, One? Strasbourg's Ibrahim Decision on Article 6" (2017) 80(6) Modern Law Review 1137–1163
- Goss R "Voting Rights and Australian Local Democracy" (2017) 40(3) UNSWLJ 1008
- Goss R “Balancing Away Article 6 in Home Office v Tariq: Fair Trial Rights in Closed Material Proceedings” in G Martin et al (eds), Secrecy, Law and Society (ch 4)(Routledge, 2015)
- Goss R. Criminal Fair Trial Rights: Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights. (Hart Publishing, Oxford, 2014).
- (Book longlisted for the Inner Temple Book Prize 2015, shortlisted for the Peter Birks Book Prize for Outstanding Legal Scholarship 2015 (Society of Legal Scholars, UK), and cited by Sajó & Laffranque JJ in Ibrahim v United Kingdom (European Court of Human Rights (Grand Chamber), September 2016). Book noted or reviewed at eg (2015) 52(6) Common Market Law Review 1709; [2015] Crim LR 243-246; [2015] Human Rights Law Review (Advance Access July 2015); Netherlands Quarterly of Human Rights 2015, 33(2), 259-260; SCOLAG Journal 2015; Newsletter Menschenrechte 3/2015, pp287-288; ECHR Blog, eThemis Public International Law Blog)
- Goss R “To the serious detriment of the public: Secret evidence and closed material procedures” in L Lazarus & JC McCrudden (eds), Reasoning Rights: Comparative Judicial Engagement (Hart Publishing, Oxford, 2014)(pp118-134).
- Lazarus L & R Goss, “Criminal Justice Under the UK Human Rights Act” (2013) 25 Singapore Academy of Law Journal 755
Current research projects include work on Australian constitutional law, an Australian republic, and voting rights.
Consultancies
- Fellow, Centre for Policy Development, Australia (2016- )
- Non-Resident Expert, Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, New Delhi (2014- )
- Consultant/Panellist, INTERIGHTS Legal Research Panel, London (2012-2014)
Conference papers & presentations
Recent papers:
- Goss R. "The Catastrophe of the Dismissal: Power & Propriety" presented at New Ways Forward Conference (Canberra, December 2016)
- Goss R. "Chosen by the People: Reforming Local Democracy" presented at the National Law Reform Conference (Canberra, April 2016)
- Goss R. "Rethinking Article 6 Fair Trial Rights: Does the ECtHR's 'Fourth Instance Doctrine' Hold Water?" presented at Society of Legal Scholars Conference (Civil Liberties & Human Rights section) (Nottingham, UK, 9 September 2014)
- Goss R. "Critiquing the Role of a Supra-National Human Rights Court: Does the ECtHR's 'Fourth Instance Doctrine' Hold Water?" presented at Australia New Zealand Society International Law 2014 Conference (Canberra, 3 July 2014)
- Goss R. "The Risk of the Gist" (Discussing closed material procedures and Tariq [2011] UKSC 35) presented at the University of Sydney's "Secrecy, Law, and Society" Workshop (Sydney, 6 February 2014)
Case notes & book reviews
- Goss R. “Book Review: Amnesties in the Age of Human Rights Accountability” (2013) 1 European H Rts Law Review 108
- Goss R. “Book Review: Criminal Evidence and Human Rights: Reimagining Common Law Procedural Traditions” (2012) 6 European H Rts Law Rev 713
- Goss R. “Book Review: Fair Trial Rights, 2nd Edn” (2011) 2 European H Rts Law Rev 237
- Goss R. “Book Review: Australian Constitutional Law & Theory” (2007) 27 Qld Lawyer 311
Other
Scholarly blogposts etc:
- Goss R., Judgment, Day, Australian Public Law blog, May 2016.
- Goss R., 'The Commonwealth v The ACT: Marriage Equality in the High Court', Oxford Human Rights Hub Blog, 13 December 2013
- Goss R., 'Wedding Crashers in Canberra?', Oxford Human Rights Hub Blog, 25 October 2013
- Goss R., 'Ten Thousand Miles from Wall Street: Muldoon v Melbourne City Council'. Oxford Human Rights Hub Blog, 4 October 2013
- Goss R., ‘What is the Bill of Rights Commission’s ‘strong argument’?’. UK Constitutional Law Blog, 20 December 2012
Other:
- DPhil thesis. Goss R. Rethinking Article 6: The criminal fair trial rights case law of the European Court of Human Rights. (University of Oxford, 2012, 314pp).
- Carter, Syed, Goss and Lazarus, 'The Use of Secret Evidence in Judicial Proceedings: A Comparative Survey - Report for the UK Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights' (Oxford Pro Bono Publico; 2011)
- White M & Goss R. “Australian Maritime Law Update 2004” (2005) 36 J of Maritime Law & Commerce253-277
- BA(Hons) thesis. Goss R. 'He that is not for us, is against us': An Analysis of American Federalist Politics During the First Six Months of 1798 from the Perspective of the Gazette of the United States. (University of Queensland, 2004, 92pp).
Research interests
PhD supervision
I am currently, and am willing to consider in future, supervising research projects at any level (including PhD/HDR/Masters/Honours/etc) in areas including:
- Australian constitutional law,
- European human rights law,
- Comparative human rights law,
- UK constitutional law,
- UK administrative law.
From July 2017, I am also Director, HDR Programs. If you are interested in PhD/HDR study, please read the HDR site carefully.
Current courses
| Year | Course code | Course name |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 |
LAWS8234 Class #6717 |
International and Comparative Human Rights Law |
| 2019 |
LAWS8247 Class #6763 |
Comparative Civil and Political Rights |
| 2019 |
LAWS6105 Class #8368 |
Australian Public Law |
| 2019 |
LAWS6105 Class #9539 |
Australian Public Law |
Previous courses
| Year | Course code | Course name |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 |
LAWS8247 Class #9758 |
Civil and Political Rights |
| 2016 |
LAWS8234 Class #5556 |
International Human Rights Law |
| 2016 |
LAWS8247 Class #6625 |
Civil and Political Rights |
| 2018 |
LAWS8234 Class #6887 |
International Human Rights Law |
| 2017 |
LAWS6105 Class #8713 |
Australian Public Law |
| 2018 |
LAWS6105 Class #8713 |
Australian Public Law |
| 2017 |
LAWS8234 Class #6861 |
International Human Rights Law |
| 2018 |
LAWS6105 Class #3715 |
Australian Public Law |
| 2016 |
LAWS6105 Class #9034 |
Australian Public Law |
Philosophy & approach
- Australian Awards for University Teaching 2017: Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning (Department of Education and Training, September 2017)
- Winner, ANU Law Award for Teaching Excellence (Excellence in Education Awards, 2016)
- ANU Law Excellence in Education Awards nominee: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
- Oxford University Student Union Teaching Awards 2013, Shortlisted for 'Most Acclaimed Lecturer', Social Sciences Division, University of Oxford (June 2013)
Past courses
At the Australian National University (2013- ):
- Australian Public Law (JD and LLB)
- International Human Rights Law (Masters and JD)
- Civil & Political Rights (Masters and JD)
At the University of Oxford (2010-2013):
- Constitutional Law (Lincoln College, Oxford; undergraduates; 2011, 2012)
- Administrative Law (Lincoln College, Oxford; undergraduates; 2012, 2013)
- Criminal Justice & Human Rights (Oxford; postgraduates; 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13) (co-taught with Prof Andrew Ashworth and Dr Liora Lazarus)
- Jessup International Law Moot coach/co-coach at University of Oxford (2009 and 2010)
How my works connects with public policy
My work relates to some of the biggest questions of public policy: how democracy functions, what limits are placed on what our governments can do, and what role is and ought to be played by we, the people. Thus in the past my work has connected with public policy through publications read by practitioners, through explanation and advocacy in the media, and through work with NGOs (see Research tab for full details).
Interaction with the community and the profession
- My book Criminal Fair Trial Rights (Hart, 2014), cited in Ibrahim & Ors v United Kingdom (European Court of Human Rights, Grand Chamber, September 2016) by Sajó & Laffranque JJ
- ANU Vice-Chancellor's Award for Public Policy and Outreach (2016) (team winner)
- ANU Media Award: Award for Improving the Quality of Public Debate (2016) (joint winner)
Selected media work:
- Article, "Australian politics explainer: the writing of our Constitution" for The Conversation (7 April 2017)
- Interview about the marriage equality debate with ABC Canberra (Mornings, 8 November 2016)
- Interview about a marriage equality plebiscite with ABC Perth (Mornings, 13 September 2016)
- Interview about a marriage equality plebiscite with ABC Adelaide (Afternoons, 13 September 2016)
- Article, "What is parliament's role in the marriage equality debate?" for The Conversation (24 August 2016)
- Interview about a marriage equality plebiscite with ABC 666 Canberra (Drive, 3 August 2016)
- Article, "If Australia is going to have a plebiscite on marriage equality, how should it work?" for The Conversation (2 August 2016), republished by the ABC and SBS.
- ANU Media's "Off the Hill" weekly election video series (May-July 2016)
- Interviews about June 2016 Brexit referendum result with: 891 ABC Adelaide, News.com.au, channel 9, 2UE, 666 ABC Canberra (x 2), ABC Alice Springs, 2CC Canberra, ABC Gippsland, ABC Ballarat, 2SER, 702 ABC Sydney with Richard Glover,
- Article, "How is the UK’s Brexit referendum different from Australian referendums?" for The Conversation (22 June 2016)
- Interview with Genevieve Jacobs on UK EU referendum/Brexit for ABC 666 Canberra: Mornings (2 May 2016)
- Interview with Steve Martin at ABC Ballarat on UK EU referendum/Brexit (17 Feb 2016)
- Article, "How unwritten rules shape ministerial accountability" for The Conversation (16 December 2015)
- Article, “What might The Dismissal's legacy mean for an Australian republic push” for The Conversation (11 November 2015)
- Interview with Kieran Gilbert on apprehended bias and Dyson Heydon for Sky News AM Agenda (28 August 2015, 9.15am)
- Interview with Ros Childs on the role of the Speaker for ABC News 24's lunchtime news and ABC1 News at Noon (10 August 2015, 12.30pm)
- Interview with Sean Britten on the election of the next Speaker for 2SER Sydney's The Daily (5 August 2015, 9.15am)
- Interview with Lindy Burns on the independence of the Speaker for 774 ABC Melbourne: Evenings (4 August 2015, 7.30pm)
- Interview with Paul Turton on the resignation of the Speaker for 1233 ABC Newcastle: Mornings (3 August 2015, 9.10am)
- Interview with Genevieve Jacobs on the role of the Speaker for ABC 666 Canberra: Mornings (30 July 2015, 9.10am)
- Interview with Kim Kleidon on current constitutional law debates including the Speaker's entitlements for ABC Tropical North Radio: Mornings (for air July 2015)
- Article, “A truly independent Speaker could renew Australia’s parliamentary democracy” for The Conversation (21 July 2015)
- Article, "Marriage Equality: Law And Politics In Australia" for Legaldate, Volume 26(3) (July 2014)
- Interview with Kieran Gilbert for Sky News "AM Agenda" on Court of Disputed Returns WA Senate Case, 18 February 2014 (approx 0910am).
- Interview with Kieran Gilbert for Sky News "AM Agenda" on Court of Disputed Returns WA Senate Case, 30 January 2014 (approx 0850am).
- Interview with Triple J's "Hack" on the result in The Commonwealth v Australian Capital Territory, 12 December 2013
- Interview with WIN TV News Canberra on The Commonwealth v Australian Capital Territory, 5 December 2013.
- Interview with Triple J's "Hack" on submissions in The Commonwealth v Australian Capital Territory, 3 December 2013
- Interview with WIN TV News Canberra re legal battle over ACT marriage laws. 22 October 2013.
- Goss R. The looming legal battle over ACT gay marriage. Crikey. 14 October 2013
- Interview with Tim Lester for Fairfax Media's "Breaking Politics" on the ACT's marriage equality legislation, 11 October 2013
- Interview with Crikey for "Crikey Clarifier: Australia’s counter-terrorism legal landscape", 19 September 2013
- Interview with Triple J's "Hack" on ACT Same Sex marriage legislation, 19 September 2013
- Goss R. 'What can Australia's Labor party learn from popular elections overseas?'. The Guardian, 10 July 2013
