Conference Program


RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
AT THE
CROSSROADS

The Rise of Anti-Christian Sentiment in the West

14-15 June 2019, Sheridan College – Perth-WA


FRIDAY, 14 June 2019 

6.00 pm – Registration

6.20 pm – Opening of the Conference – Prof Augusto Zimmermann 

6.30 pm – Introduction of Keynote Speaker – The Hon John Gilmour QC

6.40 pm – Keynote Speech by Distinguished Professor Emeritus William Wagner

“Lex Rex or Rex Lex: The Virtue of Originalism or the Tyranny of the Few”

8.00 pm – Cocktail Party

SATURDAY, 15 June 2019

8.30 am – Coffee and Registration

Session 1 – Moderator: The Hon Nick Goiran MLC 

9.00 am – “Humbly Relying on the Blessings of Almighty God?” – Ashley Saunders

9.30 am – “The Australian Battle for Religious Freedom” – Martyn Iles

10.00 am – Q&A

10.15 Coffee Break

Session 2 – Moderator: The Hon Aaron Stonehouse MLC 

11.00 am – “Freedom To Offend In The Pursuit Of Truth” – Johnny Sakr

11.30 am – “Islamic Blasphemy Law by Stealth: The Constitutional Invalidity of Extending Section 18C to Religious Grounds” – Augusto Zimmermann

12.00 pm – Q&A

12.15 pm – Lunch Break

Session 3 – Moderator: The Hon Charles Smith MLC

1.00 pm – “Safe from Harm? Defending Classical Liberalism in the Culture War” – Joshua Forrester

1.30 pm – “Preserving the Gospel in Australia in a Post-Truth World: New Political Tactics” –  Asha Towers

2.00 pm – “We are not at the Cross Roads, We are at the Cross” – Darren South

2.30 pm – Q&A

2.45 pm – Coffee Break

Session 4 – Moderator: The Hon Michael Sutherland

3.00 pm – “Religious Freedom and Planning Law in Australia” – Tim Houweling

3.30 pm – “The Battle for Religious Freedom in Australia: From Disciplinary Proceedings to the High Court” – Christopher Brohier

4.00 pm – “The Practical ‘Lawfare’ Approach to the Defence of Religious Freedom” – Robert Balzola 

4.30 pm – Q&A

4.45 pm – Coffee Break

Session 5 – Moderator: Peter Abetz 

5.00 pm – “Bait and Switch: A reflection on the recent Sex Discrimination (Removing Discrimination Against Students) Bill 2018 and the Queer Activist playbook for attacking Religious Freedom” – John Steenhof

5.30 pm – “Clubb v Edwards, Preston v Avery [2019] HCA 11: The Abortion ‘Buffer Zones’ Case: A Critical Appraisal” – Rocco Loiacono

6.00 pm – TBA – Steve Heathcote

6.30 pm – Q&A

6.45 pm – Conference Conclusion – All speakers debating issues raised during the conference

7.15 pm – Closing Remarks by The Hon John Gilmour QC 

7.30 pm – Cocktail Party