Making Sense of the Voice (Professors Anne Twomey and Ken Hinchcliff)

Making Sense of the Voice

Join us for a one-hour session on the imminent Voice Referendum, featuring Professors Anne Twomey and Ken Hinchcliff.

In the first half of the session, Professor Twomey, one of Australia’s leading constitutional lawyers, will guide us through the history of the referendum and issues raised by its critics. She will address:

• The history and rationale of the Voice referendum
• The legitimacy of key concerns, including judicial review, the making of representations to the Executive Government, and the idea that the government is asking for a "blank cheque" without providing sufficient detail
• What happens after the referendum succeeds/fails

In the latter half, Professor Hinchcliff, the head of Trinity College within The University of Melbourne, will lead a conversation about the role of university colleges amid the referendum. We will address questions such as:

• Should individual colleges take a public position on the Voice?
• How proactive should colleges be in helping their students cast an informed vote?
• If so, how should such education be undertaken?

This event is targeted at university college leaders who wish to expand their knowledge on the Voice referendum and make decisions about institutional engagement with this important democratic process.