QUT Faculty of Law’s Dr Alex Deagon recently published an article in the prestigious Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy which considers whether religious arguments ought to have a place in modern politics. Alex responds to the common objection that religion should not contribute to law and public policy because it can be sectarian, divisive and exclusive.

Rather, Alex proposes that religious contributions are an expression of religious freedom and equality because religious perspectives play essentially the same role as non-religious perspectives in policy debate between citizens, and are often just as contested. More importantly, religious arguments can pursue the public good as least as much as secular ones and so are essential resources for the democratic formulation of policy.

Alex is investigating further research on how religious contributions to public policy might enhance freedom and equality in our modern democracy. This will include an analysis of the US and the UK for insights on how they balance religious freedom with equality which Australia can use in its unique legal and political context.

See Alex’s track record to find out more about his research interests and achievements.

Dr Bridget Lewis

Dr Bridget Lewis’ recent book, Environmental Human Rights and Climate Change: Current Status and Future Prospects, is now available. Bridget’s book surveys environmental human rights protection around the world to highlight how human rights law can enhance how we respond to climate change.

Bridget’s research examines environmental problems using human rights law, particularly those arising from climate change, to argue that governments are violating human rights by failing to protect the environment. Bridget identifies how human rights law at the international, regional and domestic level applies to environmental degradation and then analyses that law to identify where it needs to be improved to protect future generations who will experience the consequences of environmental destruction. See Bridget’s research track record for a flavour of her research interests and achievements.

Bridget’s research continues to make an impact in her field. QUT staff can see her as part of the QUT women in in research showcase at QUT on Wednesday 21 November 2018 from 12pm to 2pm. Register now.

On 16 and 17 July, the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Indigenous  Affairs held public hearings in Parliament House, Brisbane. The committee is responding to long-standing calls from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, members of the community and industry for action and are tasked with investigating possible legal responses to the growing presence of inauthentic Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ‘style’ art and crafts products and merchandise for sale across Australia. Read about the inquiry.

Ms Stephanie Parkin appeared before the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Indigenous Affairs

QUT Law School academics, Professor Matthew Rimmer and Dr Kylie Pappalardo, and intellectual property lawyer and QUT MPhil student, Stephanie Parkin, were invited to appear before the committee. Other members of the community were also invited to give evidence after filing submissions with the committee, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and business owners, wholesalers and representatives from the Queensland Government.

Professor Rimmer spoke about the long history of struggles around Indigenous intellectual property in Australia, and the approaches that international law bodies and other countries have taken to combat similar problems elsewhere. Many of these struggles and approaches are documented in a recent collection on Indigenous Intellectual Property, edited by Professor Rimmer.

Ms Parkin provided a written submission to the committee in November 2017 and at the hearing spoke about why accurate labelling of foreign-created and controlled ‘Aboriginal style’ art and products is not enough to protect the legal interests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. Ms Parkin, a Quandamooka person from North Stradbroke Island, is undertaking her Master of Philosophy research project on the prevalence of fake art and products in Australia and the gaps in legal protection for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists.

Some of the Brisbane community who attended the public hearings and gave evidence, pictured with members of the committee (left to right): Ted O’Brien MP, John Smith Gumbula, Nancy Bamaga, Bob Weatherall, Warren Snowdown MP, Sharon Claydon MP, Delvene Cockatoo-Collins, Michael Connolly, Elliot Bledsoe and Stephanie Parkin. Photo credit: Delvene Cockatoo-Collins.

‘There are a variety of issues at play here and any proposed solution must include both legal reform and non-legal remedies, including educational campaigns for consumers and long-term support for artists and art centres. In my view, the existence of inauthentic Aboriginal art and products must also cause us to reflect how we, as a nation, value and respect Aboriginal cultural expression,’ said Ms Parkin.

Dr Pappalardo discussed the deficiencies in copyright law for protecting Indigenous art from exploitation. She also highlighted lessons raised by Indigenous artists attending a symposium held at QUT in June on Protecting Indigenous Artwork from Exploitation, including the importance of policies to support the development of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists within Australian communities.

The committee has a continuing schedule of public hearings around the country. They aim to identify ways to prevent the misuse and exploitation of cultural expression through inauthentic Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art and products.