Audio

COVID-19 and The Challenge for The Courts – Michael Kirby

COVID-19 and The Challenge for The Courts – Michael Kirby

Interview between Professor Greg Adamson (of the University of Melbourne) and the Hon Michael Kirby concerning the late Justice James Staples

A recording of an interview between Professor Greg Adamson (of the University of Melbourne) and the Hon Michael Kirby concerning the late Justice James Staples. He was a brilliant student at the University of Sydney; a barrister who often appeared for the underdog; an active member of the NSW Council for Civil Liberties; and ultimately a Deputy President (judge) of the Australian Conciliation and Arbitration Commission.

When the Australian Industrial Relations Commission was established to take over the jurisdiction and functions of the earlier Commission, Justice Staples was the only presidential member not reappointed to the new body. This was a breach of long-standing Federal conventions defensive of judicial independence and tenure.

The interview explores the life and times of Jim Staples and the way his life illustrates his deep conviction that the law would protect him, although it did not.

 

HIV Prevention and Care in Prisons Project

An audio interview I gave to Doctor Paul Simpson, research fellow at the National Health and Medical Research Council Centre for research in offender health. He is based at the Kirby Institute, UNSW. It concerns HIV prevention and care in Australian prisons.

Download the transcript

Human Rights Panel Discussion

 

A recording of a pre-theatre interview and dialogue at the Seymour Theatre of the University of Sydney on 19 February 2020.

The dialogue concerned the steps leading to the removal of the criminal laws in the Criminal Code of Tasmania against homosexual activity. The people interviewed were: Rodney Croome (Tasmanian LGBT activist); Anna Brown (Australian equality activist and lawyer); Justin Koonin (President of the Aids Council of New South Wales) and Michael Kirby.

Michael Kirby talk to Barra Brui Probus Club on 28th February 2020

The speech is on ‘’Whatever Happened to the UN Report on North Korea?’’

Probus Club, Turramurra, on Friday 28 February 2020

Federal Religious Discrimination Bill 2019

An ABC Radio Program P.M. interview by Linda Mottram on 26 February 2020 concerning the Federal Religious Discrimination Bill 2019

Conversation between Michael Kirby and Rev Christopher Waterhouse

A conversation between Michael Kirby and Rev Christopher Waterhouse of the St James Institute, Sydney

The conversation is illustrated with musical favourites chosen by Michael Kirby from different periods in his life. They include JS Bach, J Symonds (hymnal), Noel Coward and John Lennon of the Beatles.

 
 

Michael Kirby has been elected Patron of QTOPIA alongside Ita Buttrose AC OBE.

QTOPIA will launch Sydney’s gay museum.