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Constitution and Law

Australia's Constitution is its most important legal document, and the foundation on which this country is built. Here you will find our work on the importance of the Constitution and its relevance today, as well as our work on proposed changes to the Constitution.

Protected: When Billy Met Sally

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On A Giant’s Shoulders

Zachary Gorman Started 29 April 2019 Constitution and law, Ideas and liberty,

When one hears about the development of the principles of liberty, the story generally begins with the ancient Greeks who invented philosophy and democracy, and then moves on to the Romans with...

Parliamentary Research Briefs

20 Policies To Fix Australia

John Roskam and Daniel Wild 12 April 2019 Constitution and law, Featured,

15 Policies The Coalition Should Implement But Will Not And 5 Policies They Should Not Implement But Will (Click here to download the full list of policies.) A Statement on Liberal Philosophy...

Media Releases

15 Policies The Coalition Should Implement But Won’t, And 5 Policies They Should Not Implement But Will

Evan Mulholland 12 April 2019 Constitution and law, Ipa today,

“Australia is the greatest nation on earth, but our freedoms and way of life must be protected if our prosperity is to endure,” said Daniel Wild, Director of Research with the free market think...

Western Civilisation

Fathers of our Constitutional Inheritance

Zachary Gorman 1 April 2019 Constitution and law, Ipa today,

Australia’s successful constitution is a combination of a written document and an unwritten parliamentary system based on custom and precedent imported from Britain. This series – first...

IPA TODAY

New Study Finds 358 Breaches Of Fundamental Legal Rights In Federal Laws

Morgan Begg 25 January 2019 Constitution and law, Ipa today,

“The erosion of the fundamental legal rights of all Australians have accelerated under federal law in 2018,” says Morgan Begg, Research Fellow at free-market think tank the Institute...

PUBLICATIONS

Integrity Body Has Limited Power Now But Just Watch This Space

Morgan Begg 14 December 2018 Constitution and law, In the news,

The only way to ensure vested interests in the federal government don’t misuse their power is to ensure the federal government doesn’t wield so much power in the first place. The Morrison...

Submissions

IPA submission to the University of Tasmania’s Draft University Behaviour Policy and Procedure

Matthew Lesh 19 October 2018 Constitution and law, Ipa today,

This submission responds to the University of Tasmania’s Draft University Behaviour Policy and Procedure. This submission raises concern that the proposed policy seriously threatens freedom of...

Defending Religious Liberty

Morgan Begg Started 25 September 2018 Constitution and law, Faith and society,

It is time to change laws that are restricting religious liberty, an essential feature of freedom and liberal democracy, argues Morgan Begg. (this article first appeared in the August 2018 edition...

Rediscovering Australian Liberalism

Zachary Gorman Started 10 August 2018 Constitution and law, Ideas and liberty,

Liberalism in Australia has a proud, much older history than the Liberal Party, writes Zachary Gorman.* There is a common misconception that the liberal movement in Australia essentially began...

PUBLICATIONS

Finally, Parliament Can Act On Restoring The Right To Free Speech

Simon Breheny 20 July 2018 Constitution and law, Freedom of speech,

There is no right not to be offended. Yet dozens of provisions on the commonwealth statute books make it unlawful or illegal to offend. There is a right to freedom of speech, and each of these...

Originally appeared in The Australian

FIVE IDEAS TO FIX AUSTRALIA

Simon Breheny, Matthew Lesh, Daniel Wild, Morgan Begg and Gideon Rozner Started 10 May 2018 Constitution and law, Dignity of work,

This article first appeared in the May 2018 edition of the IPA Review. PDF available here. A recent university study found that public satisfaction with our democratic processes and public trust...

PUBLICATIONS

Government Must Reject NSW ICAC-Style Kangaroo Court

Simon Breheny 30 January 2018 Constitution and law, Ipa today,

“Bill Shorten’s call for a federal corruption commission should be rejected by the government and by anyone that believes in basic legal rights,” said Simon Breheny, Director of Policy at...

Research Papers

Legal Rights Audit 2017

Morgan Begg 27 December 2017 Constitution and law, Ipa today,

This report illustrates the ongoing erosion of legal rights that persists in Australia. This has been measured by an analysis of the content of all legislation passed by the federal parliament in...

The Ten Worst Constitutional Mistakes

Simon Breheny and Morgan Begg Started 18 December 2017 Constitution and law,

This article first appeared in the December 2017 IPA Review. The Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act was passed into law by the British parliament in 1900, received royal assent, and...

Media Releases

Religious Freedom Review

Morgan Begg 22 November 2017 Constitution and law, Faith and society,

“Section 18C must be included in any review of religious freedoms,” said Morgan Begg, research fellow at the free market think tank the Institute of Public Affairs. The Coalition...

In The News

Fellow Citizens

Morgan Begg 11 November 2017 Constitution and law, In the news,

The High Court’s decision last month to disqualify five federal parliamentarians for being dual citizens represents the worst excesses of judicial activism in Australia. In deciding that deputy PM...

Originally appeared in The Spectator Australia

In The News

Some Are More Innocent Than Others

John Roskam 10 November 2017 Constitution and law, In the news,

A few days ago, Attorney-General George Brandis got a bit confused. He said that the debate about the citizenship status of politicians was becoming a “witch hunt” and “this is...

Originally appeared in Australian Financial Review

Constitution and Law

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