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:

  1. 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.
  2. Uphold traditional rights and liberties, including the freedoms of association, expression, conscience and religion.
  3. 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

NSW needs major rethink of its proposed ban on conversion therapy

October 3rd, 2023|0 Comments

The NSW Government promised laws to ban harmful conversion therapy directed at an individual’s sexuality and not to follow the Victorian

ALRC lacks balance on religious schools and discrimination law

October 3rd, 2023|0 Comments

The Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) will soon finalise its recommended changes to the Sex Discrimination Act to remove freedoms of

The game is up for conservative Christians

October 8th, 2022|0 Comments

In light of the Andrew Thorburn Essendon football club controversy, Simon Kennedy has written an article for The Australian, asking the question 'are

VIDEO EXPLAINERS: Religious Discrimination Bill

May 15th, 2022|0 Comments

Recently, the proposed Religious Discrimination Bill (RDB) went through the Lower House but was stalled before going to the Senate. Why

RESULTS: Survey of Federal parties and candidates on their policies on the Religious Discrimination Bill and religious schools

May 10th, 2022|0 Comments

A broad based group of faith leaders (Christian, Muslim and Jewish) sent a questionnaire to parties and over 900 candidates in April

Religious Discrimination Bill Update (Chinese and Arabic)

May 10th, 2022|0 Comments

Translations of a recent update on the Religious Discrimination Bill are now available: Chinese (simplifed) and Arabic.

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 SneddonMark 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 KennedySimon 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.


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