George Williams
George Williams AO is one of Australiaâs leading constitutional lawyers, having worked for many years as an academic and as a barrister. He is the Anthony Mason Professor, a Scientia Professor and the Foundation Director of the Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Public Law at the University of New South Wales. He is also an Australian Research Council Laureate Fellow. George has written and edited 28 books, and has served on a number of public inquires.
We should be told how our High Court judges are chosen
George Williams US Supreme Court appointments are infected with the bitter partisanship that pervades US politics while Chief Justice Robert French's impending departure has excited barely a murmur.
Hazem El Masri case shows Australia has a problem with innocent until proven guilty
George Williams Australia has a problem with the presumption of innocence. It is being displaced by a rush to judgement. The reasons for this are understandable, but problematic.
Senate voting needs reform below the line as well
George Williams In a democracy, voters should determine who is elected to Parliament. The Senate electoral system fails this test. Design flaws mean that people can elect candidates they do not support.
Voting in the same-sex marriage plebiscite should be extended to 16 and 17 year olds
George Williams It seems that there is no turning Malcolm Turnbull back from holding a plebiscite on same-sex marriage.
Asylum seekers on Nauru are in a legal black hole
George Williams All this means that Australia’s treatment of asylum seekers by way of offshore processing will now raise few legal questions. Instead, it will be governed by the politics of the day.
The growing assault on our democratic rights
George Williams An extraordinary number of Australian laws now infringe basic democratic standards, but we hardly bat an eyelid.
How an Indigenous treaty would build a better foundation for Australia
George Williams Australia does not recognise the sovereignty of its first nations by way of a treaty, and the effects have been devastating.
All victims of abuse sanctioned by the state deserve the same right to compensation
George Williams We are happy to compensate victims of drought, bushfires and sexual abuse, so why won't we help the stolen generations?
Citizenship rights a casualty of terrorism
George Williams The horrific events in Paris will no doubt fuel the call for more and even tougher laws to combat terrorism.
Racial Discrimination Act a turning point in fight against legal discrimination
George Williams While eradicating racial discrimination is far from complete, the act continues to serve an important role.
Bid for UN councils made all the more harder by conflicted position on international affairs
George Williams Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop has announced two ambitious goals. Australia will bid for seats on the UN Human Rights Council from 2018 and the UN Security Council from 2029.
Why Malcolm Turnbull must dump the citizenship bill
George Williams Far from making us safer, legislation allowing Australian citizenship to be stripped from dual nationals would make matters worse.
Under PM Turnbull, where to now for same-sex marriage?
George Williams Malcolm Turnbull made it clear last week that he will keep to the coalition's position on same-sex marriage.
Disquiet over Heydon's role difficult to dispel
George Williams This week the Labor Party will shift the point of attack on royal commissioner Dyson Heydon. Opposition frontbencher Penny Wong will ask the Senate to send an address to Governor General Peter...
The failure to fix the expenses system rests with our politicians. We need true reform
George Williams It is obvious that the system of parliamentary entitlements for federal politicians needs root and branch reform. This has become apparent from the regular cycles of scandal and review.
Kick-starting the Republic debate
George Williams A significant shift has occurred in the ALP on the idea of Australia becoming a republic. Under Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard, Labor was pro-republican, but lacked the courage of its convictions.
We must conclude debate on recognition of our first peoples
George Williams The issue of Indigenous constitutional recognition needs purpose and urgency, or it will resettle into a pattern of drift and inaction.
Deeply flawed citizenship law throws a wide net
George Williams The bill may well be constitutional, but this does not mean it will produce a sound and sensible reform.
Devil is in the details of new bill to revoke citizenship
George Williams The revised bill to strip citizenship from dual nationals is fundamentally flawed.
Pearson proposal at odds with reality
George Williams Noel Pearson has injected an important new idea into the debate on recognising Aboriginal peoples in the Constitution.
