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
ALP’s Bill to Severely Limit Freedom of Religious Schools and Colleges and Religious Education in Churches, Mosques, Temples
The Labor Party’s proposed amendments to the Sex Discrimination Act, currently before the Senate, will severely limit the freedom of religious schools and
Greens’ 2018 Schools Bill to Regulate Sermons?
Pre-empting the release of the Ruddock Panel Report on Religious Freedom, the Greens recently introduced a Bill to the Senate. It
Submission: Inquiry into Legislative Exemptions that Allow Faith-Based Educational Institutions to Discriminate Against Students, Teachers and Staff
This is a submission prepared for the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs. An inquiry was established to consider:
Religious Freedom, True Tolerance and The Right to be Wrong
The protection of freedom of religion and belief is one key feature of a truly tolerant society. As the examples
Modern Slavery Bill Introduced to Parliament
On 28 June 2018, Home Affairs Assistant Minister Alex Hawke introduced the Modern Slavery Bill 2018 to the House. After months of
NT’s proposed changes to Anti-Discrimination Law are a bad move for freedoms
Our society is made up of lots of different groups with different views on what makes for a good life. Atheist
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.
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 is also a PhD candidate 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 – Research Analyst
Pete Mulherin is a Research Analyst at the Institute for Civil Society, and a PhD candidate in International Relations. He has a keen interest in classical liberalism and post-Enlightenment political philosophy, and his work at ICS involves examining public policies and the effects they may have on NGOs, clubs, and religious organisations. He also works as a Research Assistant at a Melbourne university, where he writes on Middle Eastern politics, Australian foreign policy, and democracy in America. Pete’s PhD dissertation focusses on Australia’s decision to fight the Islamic State. He holds a BA (History, Philosophy), and MA (International Relations).
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