George Williams
George Williams is one of Australia's leading constitutional lawyers, having worked for many years as an academic and barrister in the High Court. He is the Anthony Mason Professor of law and Foundation Director of the Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Public Law at the University of NSW, and has written and edited 22 books on topics such as human rights, anti-terror law, the High Court, electoral law and constitutional law
Too much stability can be a problem
George Williams Stability has become the new catchcry of Australian politics. It is an understandable reaction to an extraordinary election in which the people failed to pick a winner, and so brought about a hung...
Unwritten rules of hung parliaments point way towards a resolution
George Williams Australia's next government will be formed by whichever party can secure a majority of 76 votes in the House of Representatives. This is rightly a political and not a legal process.
Democracy set for a digital revolution
George Williams In 10 days, the activist group GetUp! has won two court victories that will have a profound effect on the electoral system.
Electoral roll makes a mockery of election
George Williams We are heading to a federal election, but our electoral roll is being left behind. All evidence points to the fact 1.4 million Australians are missing from the roll and will be unable to vote.
Building watchdog undermines liberty
George Williams In the heated, protracted battle over the Australian Building and Construction Commission, it can be hard to separate fact from fiction.
Top judicial posts merit scrutiny
George Williams One of the greatest shows in Washington begins next week when Elena Kagan fronts a confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Standards start to slip without the rule of law
George Williams The Rudd government came to office promising to introduce major new checks and balances on spending taxpayers' money on government advertising.
Filtering by computer fails on judgment
George Williams The plan to filter the internet for material refused classification under Australian law is legally flawed.
Too rich, too weak to succeed seceding
George Williams Western Australia was the last colony to join the federation. Some people now want it to be the first state to leave.
Human rights: People with power don't want to give it up
George Williams The battle for an Australian charter of rights is the debate that will not die. The question has been a persistent part of the national discussion since World War II.
A nation girt by sea - and divided by it
George Williams There has always been sense in Australia and New Zealand being one country. The chance for them to join together arose at federation in 1901, but the opportunity was missed when the new nation...
The moral quandary of sterilising a child
George Williams A recent Family Court decision permitting the sterilisation of an 11-year-old girl with a severe disability presents a legal and moral quandary.
No death penalty, no shades of grey
George Williams The Death Penalty Abolition Bill, debated in Federal Parliament last week, is the most important initiative on the death penalty for decades.
Stuck in an unfair federal system
George Williams Last week's High Court decision in the Arnold case reveals major problems with Australia's structure of government when it comes to the Murray-Darling basin.
Change will only come if leaders can agree
George Williams Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott have been trading blows on constitutional change. This is long overdue.
Past time to cut ties with the monarchy
George Williams Prince William's arrival yesterday reminds us of our constitutional future. After his father, he will be our king.
Debate the recall, but safeguard the system
George Williams The idea of recall elections for NSW has immediate popular appeal. However, I am yet to be convinced it would be a sensible addition to the state constitution.
Rudd unlikely to be trigger happy
George Williams Do not expect the Government to rush into calling a double-dissolution election.
Rudd is unlikely to be trigger happy
George Williams The prospect of a double dissolution has been talked up all year. Now it seems the legislation for an emissions trading scheme may finally provide the means to hold one.
League tables law is simply rank
George Williams First we had the Herald brazenly breaking the law last week by publishing a comparison of the test results of three schools, and next we were told there was a real possibility that the ban on...
