Australian Magna Carta Celebrations in 2015

Date Event Institution
December 3 Announcement of Essay Topic for 2015 Governor-General’s annual prize Constitution Education Fund Australia
February 10 Tenth Anniversary of Governor-General’s Prize at the High Court Constitution Education Fund Australia
February 20 Conference: “The Rule of Law: 800 years after the Magna Carta” Law Society of WA and the University of Western Australia Law School
March Publication of hand copy of 1215 of Magna Carta RoLIA
April 15 Professor Paul Brand lecture at the University of Melbourne University of Melbourne
May-June Launch of the Magna Carta Legacy website Rule of Law Institute of Australia (RoLIA)
May Publication of Updated booklet on the Magna Carta Australian Senate
May 7 History Council of NSW symposium on the Magna Carta at NSW State Library History Council of NSW and RoLIA
May 13 A leading Oxford scholar speaks at the High Court on Magna Carta High Court of Australia
May 13 Opening of Magna Carta Exhibition in High Court High Court of Australia and RoLIA
May 18 Professor Paul Brand lecture at the Australian Academy of Law Australian Academy of Law
June Launch of Oliver Freeman’s Book Law Council of Australia
June Australian Senate Occasional Lecture on Magna Carta The Australian Senate
June Exhibition and Display Celebrating the 800th Anniversary of Magna Carta The University of Technology Sydney (UTS)
June 3 Public Lecture at the Constitutional Centre of Western Australia Constitutional Centre of Western Australia
June 8 Medieval Fair Exhibition of Museum of Australian Democracy Museum of Australian Democracy
June 14 Magna Carta celebration at Magna Carta Place in Canberra Canberra Magna Carta Committee & RoLIA
June 14 Celebration of Magna Carta at St James Church, Sydney St James Church & RoLIA
June 15 Ceremonial Sitting of the ACT Supreme Court ACT Supreme Court
June 15 ‘Magna Carta: Celebrating 800 Years of Law and Liberty’ The Centre for Independent Studies
June 15 Lecture – Magna Carta: How relevant to Australia and Human Rights? The Australian National University
June 16 800 Year Anniversary Event at Parliament House Tasmania Parliament of Tasmania
June 18/19 National Access to Justice and Pro Bono Conference in Sydney Law Council of Australia
June 19 Lecture on the Magna Carta by the British High Commissioner Australian Senate Occasional Lecture Series
June 24 Speech by Prime Minister on Magna Carta (British High Commission Magna Carta Oration) British High Commission
July 10-11 Judicial Independence in Australia Conference – University of Queensland TC Beirne School of Law, sponsored by the Rule of Law Institute of Australia
September 29 Supreme Court Oration – ‘Magna Carta: Destiny or Accident?’ by the Rt. Hon. Lord Judge Supreme Court Library Queensland
October 1 Lord Judge on Magna Carta Gilbert + Tobin Centre for Public Law
October Senate Symposium Australian Senate
November 28 Conference on Magna Carta and liberty Campion College

The program is starting to fill up quickly! Subscribe to our mailing list for further details of these events as they become available!

If you are intending to hold an event, please let us know so that the dates do not clash.

Other Activities Planned Throughout 2015

Activity Institution
Collection items in MOAD and National Library
  • Museum of Australian Democracy
  • National Library of Australia
Rehousing of the Magna Carta at Parliament House
  • Department of Parliamentary Services
Online education material and interactive website
  • Existing resources include: “Scootle” (www.scootle.edu.au – an online product that is funded by the Department of Education which collates multiple learning resources
  • Legacy of Magna Carta in the Commonwealth website
Memorabilia
  • Progress from Department of Parliamentary Services and Australian Parliament Shop
Student competitions – including essay competition between Australian students and English students
Student competitions – artistic work
  • Attorney General’s Department liaised with History Teachers Association of Australia
  • British High Commission
Talks at schools, age targeted activities, poster series
  • Rule of Law Institute of Australia
Links with other countries in school programs to show importance and application of the Magna Carta
  • British High Commission is progressing on a link with the United Kingdom

Throughout 2014 numerous events have been held in the United Kingdom to celebrate the anniversary. Much more is planned for next year culminating on 15 June 2015, 800 years from when the Charter was granted. Extensive celebrations have also occurred and are planned in the United States and Canada. The Committee is hoping to coordinate a series of events in Australia.

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