Australians and the Death Penalty:
National and International Dimensions

A seminar presented by the Institute of Criminology and the Sydney Centre for International and Global Law.

Session 1: 'Off-shore Policing and Death Penalty Punishments'
(3-5pm)

In recent years Australian policing agencies have expanded their investigations and protective functions into the Asia/Pacific region. As a consequence of what has become known as the 'Bali 9' case the exercise of discretion by Australian police in their investigations has contributed to the prosecutions and convictions of Australian citizens in jurisdictions where capital punishment is a possible and even likely outcome.

This throws up not just considerations of the purpose and propriety of Australian policing off-shore, but the challenges posed for a law enforcement process which otherwise administers justice where the death penalty has no place.

In this context the session will explore this transition in Australian policing practice and priorities. The extent to which Australian governments and justice agencies should do more than avoid exposing our citizens to capital punishment outcomes will also be considered.

Chair: Professor Mark Findlay (Institute of Criminology)

Speakers:
Dr David Indermaur (University of Westerm Australia)
"Attitudes to the death penalty: An Australian perspective"
Michael Walton (Committee Member, NSW Council for Civil Liberties) "Transnational policing, human rights and the death penalty"
Michael Phelan (National Manager, Border & International Network, Australian Federal Police)
Professor Simon Bronitt (Australian National University)

Session 2: International Perspectives on the Death Penalty
(5.30-7.30pm)

As Australia does not currently permit any form of capital punishment, the death penalty is purely an international phenomena for Australians. But as recent events have demonstrated it is not a distant phenomena and as Australians travel more frequently overseas and are caught up in transnational crimes, the application of the death penalty against Australians will become more frequent.

This panel will review the legal and policy options to contest the legitimacy of the death penalty in international and national courts and the campaign to encourage the Australian government to take a stronger stand against the death penalty both with the regional and internationally

Chair: Professor David Kinley
(Sydney Centre for International and Global Law)

Speakers:
Dr Natalie Klein (Macquarie University)
"Litigating before the ICJ in Death Penalty Cases"
Ian Farrell (University of Wollongong)
"Litigating Death Penalty Cases in the US"
A/Professor Steven Freeland (UWS) “The Death Penalty in the Context of the International Criminal Tribunals"
Suzanne Clark (Amnesty International) "The Australian Campaign against the Death Penalty"

Date: Wednesday 7 June 2006, 3.00pm – 8.00 pm
Venue: NSW Parliament House Theatrette, Macquarie St, Sydney. Directions to Parliament House.
Registration: $50, $15 concession.
>No charge for Institute of Criminology members.
>registration form