ABOUT THE INSTITUTE FOR CIVIL SOCIETY (ICS)
The Institute for Civil Society (ICS) is a social policy think tank. Established in August 2016, ICS seeks to:
- Promote recognition and respect for the institutions of civil society that exist between individuals and the government. Included in this space are clubs, schools, religious organisations, charities and NGOs.
- Uphold traditional rights and liberties, including the freedoms of association, expression, conscience and religion.
- Promote a sensible and civil discussion about how to balance competing rights and freedoms in Australian society.
OUR VOICE
Our latest publications
Our latest
publications
Comments on the Exposure Draft of the Religious Discrimination Bill 2019 and the Human Rights Legislation Amendment (Freedom of Religion) Bill 2019
ICS believes that the Second Exposure Draft of the Religious Discrimination Bill (RDB2) is a considerable improvement on the First Exposure
Mark Sneddon on ABC TV: Israel Folau, freedom of speech, and freedom of religion
"The better remedy for views which you think are objectionable is to rebut them. The remedy for bad speech is good
Comments on the Exposure Draft of the Religious Discrimination Bill 2019 and the Human Rights Legislation Amendment (Freedom of Religion) Bill 2019
PDF version available here. Executive summary ICS believes that the Religious Discrimination Bill (RD Bill) has much to commend it. However, there
Protecting Freedom of Religion and Belief in Anti-Discrimination Law – A First Look at the Religious Discrimination Bill
Mark Sneddon recently delivered a conference presentation on the newly proposed Religious Discrimination Bill. A PDF of the presentation is available here.
Policy and Drafting Issues in a Religious Discrimination Bill
Revised 24 July 2019 PDF version here. This paper raises and makes recommendations concerning some key policy and drafting issues for a
Advancing an Agenda to Protect Freedom of Religion and Belief
A PDF version of this paper is available here. On 13 December 2018 the Prime Minister released the government’s response to
FEATURED ARTICLE
Religious Freedom, True Tolerance and The Right to be Wrong
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KEY TO SUCCESS
Our People
Mark Sneddon – Executive Director
Mark Sneddon is the Executive Director of the Institute for Civil Society. He is a lawyer with a longstanding interest in promoting the freedoms of expression, conscience, association, and religion in our society, as well as seeking to encourage a civil discussion and debate on these liberties and their relation to public policy.
Mark was formerly Associate Professor of Law at the University of Melbourne Law School, and a senior lecturer at Monash University Law School in constitutional law, banking and financial services, e-business, and communications law. He has also taught at Osgoode Hall Law School, Canada, and Loyola Law School in the United States.
Mark was a partner at Clayton Utz in Melbourne for nearly 12 years until 2011, working primarily in commercial and finance law, e-business and government services.
In June 2016 he completed four and half years as Crown Counsel (Advisings) to the Victorian Attorney-General and Office of the Premier providing legal and legal policy advice and services across a wide range of subject matter including constitutional and human rights law.
In addition to his role at ICS, Mark is currently a partner in a Melbourne commercial law firm.
Dr Simon P. Kennedy – Research Analyst
Simon Kennedy is a Research Analyst at the Institute for Civil Society. His work at the ICS involves researching and writing on state and federal policy regarding freedom of conscience, freedom of speech, and freedom of religion. He holds a PhD in the history of political thought and is investigating early modern political ideas regarding the nature and structure of political society. He holds a BA Hons (Politics) from Monash University.
Simon has previously worked in the music industry, the education sector, the Victorian Public Service and at the Parliament of Victoria. He has also lectured in political thought, and political and public theology.
Dr Sharon Rodrick – Research Analyst
Dr Sharon Rodrick is a Research Analyst at the Institute for Civil Society. She holds a BA, LLB (Hons) (Melb), LLM (Melb), PhD (Monash) and Graduate Diploma in Christian Studies (Australian College of Theology). Sharon has worked as a teaching and research academic for over 25 years, specialising in media law, freedom of the media and property law. She has co-authored a textbook in media law and is published on privacy law, open justice and restrictions on journalists and reporting.
She has a longstanding interest in freedom of expression and legal limitations on it and in the protection of freedom of religion in our society.
Pete Mulherin – Policy Analyst
Pete Mulherin is a Policy Analyst at the Institute for Civil Society, and a PhD candidate. His work at ICS involves examining public policies and the effects they may have on NGOs, clubs, and religious organisations. He also manages the ICS social media and website content. He holds a BA (History, Philosophy), and MA (International Relations).
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