Centre for International & Public Law
The Centre for International and Public Law seeks to enrich legal research into the relationship between governments, and between governments and their citizens from both domestic and international perspectives.
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In the Media
New law in Hungary criminalises aiding migrants
Kevin Boreham speaks to The Daily: 2SER
Bogged down in the South China Sea
Imogen Saunders writes in APPS Policy Forum
Pregnant whales among hundreds killed in Japan hunt, report says
Donald Rothwell speaks to The New York Times
As humanity looks to the stars, so too do our lawyers
Imogen Saunders interviewed by The Canberra Times
Pregnant Whales Among Hundreds Killed in Japan Hunt, Report Says
Donald Rothwell quoted in The New York Times
Bombardement de la Syrie: le droit international bafoué
writes in Le Temps
Inter-Korean Talks Become Starting Point For Long Process Of Building Relationships – Analysis
Clive Williams quoted in Eurasia Review
High Court judgements on Section 44 and Citizenship
Kim Rubenstein interviewed by Sky News
Factoring the Pacific into Australia’s approach to China
Bal Kama writes in Devpolicy Blog
Indigenous religion not protected, ANU academic tells Ruddock review
Ernst Willheim quoted in
Upcoming events
The role of international human rights law in the prevention of ethnic conflicts
- Dr Fernand de Varennes, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues
It is sometimes forgotten that one of the premises of the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights is that it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law.
Australia’s role within the international refugee protection system: Lessons, challenges and opportunities
- Thomas Albrecht, Regional Representative, UNHCR Regional Representation in Canberra
Australia was a founding signatory of the 1951 Refugee Convention which remains the cornerstone of international protection for displaced persons. Almost 70 years later, while the Convention has proved adaptable to modern conflicts and challenges, there remains an imperative for Australia to also uphold these principles and standards domestically.
The reform of investor-state dispute resolution: Challenges and prospects
- Catherine Kessedjian, Professor Emerita, University Panthéon-Assas Paris II
The UNCITRAL has launched negotiations for the reform of investor-state dispute resolution to address states' concerns over a process that they feel has gotten out of hand. Professor Kessedjian will reflect on some of the criticism and discuss what solutions could be crafted to address them.
Public Law Weekend 2018
The Public Law Weekend is one of Australia’s pre-eminent public law conferences. Over two days, this year’s program will focus primarily on administrative law issues and developments.
Past events
2018 Timor-Leste update: At the crossroads?
- Professor Donald R Rothwell, ANU College of Law
Timor-Leste’s political impasse following the appointment of a minority government last year saw fresh elections held on 12 May, less than 10 months after the last parliamentary elections.
Defining ‘disaster’: Exploring the boundaries of international disaster law
- Dr Marie Aronsson-Storrier, University of Reading
As international disaster law is developing into a specific area of international law, debates around its scope are intensifying.
Encounters with Constitutional Interpretation and Legal Education: Essays in Honour of Michael Coper
- The Honourable Robert French AC, Distinguished Honorary Professor at ANU College of Law and former Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia
What do constitutional interpretation and legal education have in common?
Some reflections on regional maritime confidence building activities
- Associate Professor David Letts, ANU College of Law
At present there are a number of confidence building measures underway, led by different organisations, that seek to address regional tensions in the maritime domain in South East Asia.
Budget and policy analysis for gender equality
- Professor Miranda Stewart, Tax and Transfer Policy Institute, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University
Miranda Stewart will present on the effects of budgets and public policy for gender equality, with a particular focus on tax and social policy and the impact on wellbeing of women and families.
Since its establishment in 1990, the Centre for International and Public Law has been advancing the understanding of international and public law. The Centre’s members are leading experts in their fields of international and public law, and their research has had considerable impact on public policy at the local, national and international levels.
Capitalising on its proximity to the seat of our national government, the Centre has built strong connections within and across the federal government, including the Attorney General’s Department and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, as well as other key national institutions, including the High Court.
The Centre runs two annual lectures – the Geoffrey Sawer lecture and the Kirby lecture in International Law and organises two major annual conferences - the Australian and New Zealand Society of International Law Conference and the Public Law Weekend. The Centre also runs a monthly talk series, in conjunction with Attorney General's Department and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)
The Centre is also home to the leading journal, the Australian Yearbook of International Law.
Through its visitor program, the Centre hosts international and domestic scholars, judges and government lawyers.
Directors
James Stellios
Professor
Staff
Sarah Parker
Secretariat Coordinator
Members
Higher degree research students
Louise Baker
PhD Candidate
Sarah Bishop
PhD Candidate
Naomi Carde
SJD Candidate
Moeen Cheema
Senior Lecturer
Camille Goodman
PhD Candidate
Scott Joblin
PhD Candidate
Bal Kama
PhD Candidate
Wendy Kukulies-Smith
Lecturer
Katherine Lindsay
PhD Candidate
Likim Ng
PhD Candidate
Justine Poon
Manager - LRSJ
Alice Taylor
PhD Candidate
Affiliates
Interns
Advisory board
The Centre for International and Public Law produces a range of publications, including an annual yearbook, and a newsletter. Its members also regularly produce publications in the field of international law.
Australian Year Book of International Law
Published since 1965, the Australian Year Book of International Law is the leading Australian academic journal on international law. It publishes articles on a range of international law topics, including human rights, environmental law and legal theory.
Each volume contains a section on Australian practice in both private and public international law, a summary and analysis of Australian cases in which international law is an issue, as well as a lively book review section.
The Year Book is valuable for those working in the field of international law, including government officials, international organisation officials, non-government and community organisations, legal practitioners, academics and other researchers. It will also be valuable to students studying international law, international relations, human rights and international affairs.
Cambridge University Press Series: Connecting International Law with Public Law
This six book series is a key output from the Centre for International and Public Law. It grew out of a series of workshops that brought together public and international lawyers and policy makers for interdisciplinary discussion on selected topics and themes.
- Vol 1: Kim Rubenstein and Jeremy Farrall (eds), Sanctions Accountability and Governance in a Globalised World.
- Vol 2: Thomas Pogge, Matthew Rimmer and Kim Rubenstein (eds) Incentives for Global Public Health:Patent Law and Access to Essential Medicines.
- Vol 3: Brad Jessup and Kim Rubenstein (eds) Environmental Discourses in Public & International Law.
- Vol 4: Mark Nolan, Fiona Jenkins and Kim Rubenstein (eds) Allegiance and Identity in a Globalised World.
- Vol 5: Hitoshi Nasu and Kim Rubenstein (eds) Legal Perspectives on Security Institutions.
- Vol 6: Katharine G Young and Kim Rubenstein (eds) The Public Law of Gender: From the Local to the Global.
This series Connecting International Law with Public Law can be purchased from Cambridge University Press.
Federation Press: Law and Policy Papers series
A regular series of papers published co-published with Federation Press that contribute to public understanding and discussion on issues of law and public policy, especially those that are the subject of contemporary public debate. Three papers are published each year, one each on administrative law, constitutional law and international law, written by experts in academia, government, the judiciary and the private legal profession.
The Centre has published 29 papers in this series between 1994 and 2015. For a full list of titles and to access the papers by subscription or individual purchase, see the Federation Press site.
Federation Press: Books
- Adrienne Stone and George Williams (eds), The High Court at the Crossroads: Essays in Constitutional Law, Papers from the 1999 Public Law Weekend, (2000).
- Robin Creyke and Peter Sutherland (eds), Veteran's Entitlements Law, (2000).
- Robin Creyke and Patrick Keyzer (eds), The Brennan Legacy: Blowing the Winds of Legal Orthodoxy,
Papers from the 1998 Public Law Weekend, (2002).
federationpress.com.au T +61 2 9552 2200 marketing@federationpress.com.au
Publications available from CIPL
- John McMillan and Judith Jones (eds), Public Law Intersections, paper presented at the Public Law Weekend 2000 and 2001, (2003).
- John McMillan (ed), The AAT: Twenty Years Forward, (1998).
- Robin Creyke and John McMillan (eds), The Kerr Vision of Australian Administrative Law - At the Twenty-Five Year Mark, (1998).
- Robin Creyke and Michael Sassella (eds), Targeting, Accountability and Review: Current Issues in Income Support Law, (1998).
If you would like a copy, please contact our administrator on cipl.law@anu.edu.au.
Occasional papers
- Diana Bryant, Chief Federal Magistrate, The Contribution of Children to Australian Administrative Law (PDF, 117KB) Sir Richard Blackburn Lecture presented at the Law Society of the ACT, 13 May 2003.
- Jennifer Clarke, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law, ANU, The Yorta Yorta Case (PDF, 26KB), December 2002.
- Jennifer Clarke, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law, ANU, Native Title After Ward and Wilson (PDF, 19KB), September, 2002.
- HE Mr John Dauth, LVO, Australian Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, New York, Australia and the United Nations: Letter from New York, (PDF, 59KB), Paper presented at the second in the series of annual lectures by Australia's representative at the United Nations at The Australian National University, 24 July 2002.
- Larissa Behrendt, Professor of Law and Indigenous Studies, Director of Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning, University of Technology, Sydney and Visiting Scholar, ANU, Mabo: Ten Years On (PDF, 47KB), Paper presented at the 'Legacy of Mabo: A Ten Year Assessment' forum to mark the tenth anniversary of the Mabo v Queensland (No 2) Case, 6 June 2002.
- The Hon Alastair Nicholson, AO RFD, Chief Justice, Family Court of Australia, Children and Young People: The Law and Human Rights (PDF, 199KB), Sir Richard Blackburn Lecture, presented at the Law Society of the ACT, 14 May 2002.
- The Hon Sir Anthony Mason AC KBE, Distinguished Visiting Fellow, Faculty of Law, Human Rights in China and Hong Kong (PDF, 77KB), Paper presented at The Australian National University, 21 August 2001.
- Kirsty McIntyre, Manager, Legislation and Compliance, National Road Transport Commission and Barry Moore, Director, Strategy, National Road Transport Commission, The National Road Transport Commission: An Experiment in Cooperative Federalism (PDF, 109KB), Paper presented to the Public Law Discussion Group, The Australian National University, 17 July 2001.
- Terry Connolly, Master, Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory, Professions and Federation: The Emergence of a National Market in Legal Services and a National Legal Profession (PDF, 67KB), Paper presented to the Public Law Discussion Group, The Australian National University, 22 May 2001.
- Pat Brazil AO, Special Counsel, Phillips Fox Lawyers, Offshore Constitutional Settlement 1980: A Case Study in Federalism (PDF, 43KB), Paper presented to the Public Law Discussion Group, The Australian National University, 5 April 2001.
- Ian Govey, General Manager, Civil Justice & Legal Services, Commonwealth Attorney-General's Department, Corporations Law: A Case Study in Federalism (PDF, 67KB), Paper presented to the Public Law Discussion Group, The Australian National University, 21 February 2001.
- John Broome, former head of the National Crimes Authority, The Electronic Revolution: Is the Nation State Redundant? (PDF, 96KB), Paper presented to the Public Law Discussion Group, Australian National University, 23 November 2000.
- The Hon. Gough Whitlam AC QC, Constitutional Changes After 1975 (PDF, 62KB), Speech to mark the 25th anniversary of the dismissal of the Whitlam Government, 11 November 2000.
Under the ANU College of Law’s Visiting Scholar Program, the Centre offers two visiting opportunities – one for Judges, and the other for Government visitors.
Judge-In-Residence program
The Judge-in-Residence Program provides an opportunity for judges to enjoy a research intensive period at the College. Judges-in-Residence have the opportunity to be part of the research community, benefitting from, and contributing to, the vibrancy of the College’s research culture.
Government Visitor program
The Centre offers the opportunity for a government officer to enjoy a research intensive period at the College. Government Visitors will pursue a research project while at the College and be willing to draw from, and add to, the intellectual life of the College.
Business, human rights and peace in popular culture (511.02 KB)Blockbuster movies such as Blood Diamond or Avatar explore corporate responsibility themes in various ways. How might such popular culture products affect the emerging regulatory landscape on business-related human rights impacts and conflict-sensitive business practices? What role might popular culture -- in particular ‘big screen’ movies -- have to play in fostering greater awareness of, and business respect for, these norms and standards? Most scholarship on addressing the governance gap in these areas is directed to ‘supply-side’ factors -- how to design or improve legal, regulatory and policy initiatives. Scholars in the ‘business and human rights’ and ‘business for peace’ fields have focussed relatively little on insights as to the ‘demand side’ -- whether, how and to what extent consumer behaviour may be relevant in driving shifts in business practices or in complementing or demanding governmental action. This working paper explores a possible research agenda on how the nexus of business, human rights and peace is treated in pop culture, and what (if any) significance this might have to the universe of regulatory and other activity in this field. It asks how important pop culture might be in shaping a critical mass of informed consumers, a potentially relevant regulatory resource.
This paper examines the growth of transnational governance, and what it means for business lawyers advising multinational corporate clients. The term “governance” incorporates the network of actors, instruments and mechanisms that now govern transnational corporations, separate from the nation state. It is reasonable to expect that lawyers play an important role in advising business clients on how to effectively operate within this system. Indeed, many transnational legal instruments are intended to enhance clients’ business goals by enabling them to engage more efficiently in cross-border commerce. Other forms of regulation, such as human rights regulation, purports to impose requirements on companies that go beyond what is necessary to enhance cross-border commerce.
In this paper we discuss the transnational governance regime that has arisen to address the adverse human rights impacts of business activities. We focus in particular on the United Nations (UN) Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, which were adopted by the UN Human Rights Council in 2011. We ask what if any role is there for lawyers in fostering acknowledgment and fulfilment of these responsibilities among clients? Is the duty to respect human rights a “legal” obligation in any sense? If a lawyer does provide advice, should it encompass only legal risks to the company that fall within the lawyer’s traditionally defined specialized expertise? Or should it go beyond that to include other concerns?
The Centre for International and Public Law offers undergraduate students the opportunity to undertake an internship as part of LAWS4230, a subject which offers selected high achieving students an unparalleled opportunity to carry out a law-based research project in a legal professional workplace. This elective course develops both legal knowledge and a lawyer’s approach to problem identification, analysis and recommendations.
Students should contact the Centre Director to discuss the possibility of undertaking an internship with the Centre.
Previous interns are listed in our People section, and if you click on their name you can read accounts of their experiences as a CIPL intern.
Related organisations
- Australia & New Zealand Society of International Law
- Australian Institute of Administrative Law
- Castan Centre for Human Rights Law, Monash University
- Centre for Democratic Institutions, The Australian National University
- Gilbert+Tobin Centre of Public Law, UNSW
- Institute for International Law and the Humanities, University of Melbourne
- New Zealand Centre For Public Law
- Public Interest Lawyers UK
- Regulatory Institutions Network (RegNet), The Australian National University
- Sydney Centre for International and Global Law, University of Sydney
