10th Austin Asche Oration in Law and Governance [2021]

The Hon. Chief Justice of Australia Susan Kiefel AC delivered the Tenth Austin Asche Oration on 27 March 2021.

Australian lawyers might think the phrase ‘judicial independence’ to be clear in its meaning. Yet even in our federation it may have different connotations. So too does constitutional context in other jurisdictions give it a different meaning. History teaches us that judicial independence of thought is not always vigorously pursued and that judicial independence is not always a force for good. These reflections may be seen to raise two questions about judicial independence: independence from what and to what end? And those enquiries may illuminate what judicial independence can and should mean to us.

Watch the recording of the 10th Austin Asche Oration in Law and Governance [2021]