H.V. Evatt Memorial Dinner 2013 - with Julian Burnside

Human rights – from 10 December 1948 to the present 

Guest Speaker: Julian Burnside AO QC 

Master of Ceremonies: Bob Debus 

Hosted by the Evatt Foundation in association with the Katoomba branch of the ALP

About Julian Burnside 

Julian Burnside joined the Bar in 1976 and took silk in 1989. He acted for the Ok Tedi natives against BHP, for Alan Bond in fraud trials, for Rose Porteous in numerous actions against Gina Rinehart, and for the Maritime Union of Australia in the 1998 waterfront dispute against Patrick Stevedores. He was the Senior Counsel assisting the Australian Broadcasting Authority in the 'Cash for Comment' inquiry and was senior counsel for Liberty Victoria in the Tampa litigation. While specialising in commercial litigation, Mr Burnside has acted pro bono in many human rights cases, in particular concerning the treatment of refugees.

Mr Burnside is also passionately involved in the arts. He collects contemporary paintings, photographs and sculptures and regularly commissions music. He is Chair of Fortyfive Downstairs and Chair of the Mietta Foundation.

Mr Burnside is the author of a range of successful books, including On Privilege (Melbourne University Publishing, 2009), children's book Matilda and the Dragon (Allen & Unwin), and Wordwatching - Field Notes from an Amateur Philologist (Scribe Publications, 2004). He also compiled a book of letters written by asylum seekers held in Australia's detention centres, titled From Nothing to Zero (Lonely Planet, 2003)

In 2004 Mr Burnside was awarded the Human Rights Law Award by the Australian Human Rights Commission and received a Monash University Distinguished Alumni Award, and he was elected a Living National Treasure.In 2006 he was inducted as an honorary member of the Monash Golden Key Society, in 2007 he received the Australian Peace Prize, and in 2009 he received an Officer of the Order of Australia for service as a human rights advocate, and for his services to the arts and the law.

About Bob Debus 

Bob Debus is a former member of the Australian and New South Wales parliaments on behalf of the ALP. He was a minister in both the Australian and New South Wales governments. Prior to his retirement from the Australian parliament at the 2010 federal election, he was the Minister for Home Affairs in the Rudd government.

Event Cost:

$80 (includes dinner)

RSVP:

sarah.shrubb@gmail.com or phone: 4784 3064