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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.

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

In The News

Indigenous ‘Voice To Parliament’ Decision A Win For Liberal Democracy

Simon Breheny 3 November 2017 Constitution and law, In the news,

A recent decision of the Turnbull Coalition government has affirmed the bedrock principles of Australia as a proud liberal democracy. The decision of the federal government to reject the proposal...

Originally appeared in The Australian

In The News

Talking Point: Public Policy Questions A Matter For Us All

Morgan Begg 1 November 2017 Constitution and law, Freedom of speech,

While seemingly a win for freedom of speech, the High Court’s decision highlights why we shouldn’t rely on the judiciary to resolve contentious public policy questions. Two weeks ago the court...

Originally appeared in The Mercury

IPA TV

A Victory For Equality

Simon Breheny 30 October 2017 Constitution and law, Ipa tv,

Simon Breheny explains why yesterday’s development on Indigenous Recognition is such an important step for equality.

IPA TODAY

Bank Regulation: Liberals Try To Prove They Hate Banks Even More Than Labor

John Roskam 27 October 2017 Constitution and law, Finance and economics,

“Since when did a conservative government become more socialist than the ALP? What does a conservative government stand for if it wants to regulate the employment conditions of leaders in...

Originally appeared in Australian Financial Review

Media Releases

Race Has No Place In The Constitution

Simon Breheny 26 October 2017 Constitution and law, Ipa today,

“The Coalition government’s decision to reject the divisive indigenous-only ‘voice to parliament’ is a win for equality and liberal democracy,” said Simon Breheny...

Research Papers

Three Reasons The Marriage Law Survey (Additional Safeguards) Act 2017 Is Bad Law

Simon Breheny 3 October 2017 Constitution and law, Freedom of speech,

This IPA Parliamentary Research Brief seeks to explain the problems with this law. Our research demonstrates that the Marriage Law Survey (Additional Safeguards) Act 2017 is bad law because it...

In The News

Why Abolish 18C? Consider This Vexatious Complaint’s Threat To Free Speech

Simon Breheny 28 September 2017 Constitution and law, Freedom of speech,

When the legal affairs editor of this paper, Chris Merritt, sent a carefully worded reply on March 9 to an email he had received two days earlier, that should have been the end of a matter...

Originally appeared in The Australian

IPA TODAY

Victorian Donation Law Changes A Threat To Free Speech

Simon Breheny 18 September 2017 Constitution and law, Ideas and liberty,

The Andrews government’s proposed changes to Victorian donations law are undemocratic and a threat to freedom of speech, according to free market think tank the Institute of Public Affairs...

Constitution and Law

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