You are invited to attend:
Faculty of Law Twilight Seminar
AUSTRALIAN VALUES: What are they and how are we doing?
Presented by: Professor Laurence Boulle, Dr Narelle Bedford
When: Thursday, 10 September 2026
Time: 5.00 pm - 6.30pm
Where: Bond University, Faculty of Law (Building 4), Level 3, Room 3_37 - View on campus map
Closest Parking: PG2 (Parking General 2) - View on campus map
Open to the Public – All Are Welcome
Light refreshments will be served from 5pm, followed by formal proceedings commencing at 5:30pm.
With ‘values’ making the political headlines, it’s time to probe the text, and the context and sub-text, of the issues involved. Government has been talking about cultural cohesion for some time and the Opposition has indicated it will discriminate on Values, and not race, religion or ethnicity, in migration matters. While some rejoice in new forms of multiculturalism in Australia, others march for reduced migration, some politicians say they no longer recognise the country they once knew, and others say it’s all about standards.
Where do we sit in the cacophony? Much depends on where one looks and the extent to which perceptions and analysis are based on reality or on social and cognitive biases. It also depends on how we weigh one factor against another, such as economic ‘value’ against social ‘values’.
To help inform our discussion, participants are encouraged to read the Australian Values Statement, to which most visa applicants have to commit.
Professor Laurence Boulle
Professor Laurence Boulle has been looking for the values in his teaching and publications on Constitutional Law, Globalisation, Dispute Resolution and Climate Change. His latest book includes a chapter on comparative values and beliefs in Africa and Australia – Taking Africa Seriously – Featuring African Australians from 1788 (Africa World Books, 2026, forthcoming).
Dr Narelle Bedford
Dr Narelle Bedford has published two pieces of scholarship on the aftermath of the 2023 Voice referendum. In this presentation she examines how Australians understand, negotiate and enact shared values in the wake of significant democratic disagreement. The session invites colleagues to explore how values such as democracy, equality, mutual respect, the rule of law and a fair go operate in practice and how different legal and cultural perspectives, particularly First Nation viewpoints, shape their meaning.