26 July 2010 

The Constitution Education Fund Australia (CEFA) is delighted to announce the winners of the Governor-General’s Undergraduate Essay Competition. Now in its seventh year, Australia’s most prestigious essay competition provides university students with the opportunity to be recognised for their academic skill, talent and research.  

Finalists this year were interviewed by an eminent panel chaired by The Hon Robert French AC, Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia. His Honour hosted the judging of the finalists in his Sydney Chambers of the High Court on 23 July 2010.

The panel also comprised Professor Gillian Triggs (Dean, University of Sydney Law School), Professor George Williams (Anthony Mason Professor at the Faculty of Law, University of New South Wales), Professor Peter Gerangelos (Associate Professor, University of Sydney Law School) and Professor Patrick Keyzer (Director of the Centre for Law, Governance and Public Policy, Faculty of Law, Bond University).  

Mrs Kerry Jones (CEFA Executive Director) and Mr Joel Williams (CEFA Research Scholar and Project Manager of the Essay Competition) were also in attendance, assisting in the administration of the finals judging.

First Prize was awarded to Peter Congdon (University of Western Australia), who wrote an essay discussing the role of the Crown in today’s working Australian Constitution. The judges were highly impressed with Peter’s extensive research and his written and verbal critical analysis of the topic, awarding him the Professor George Winterton Prize. To read Peter’s essay, click the above link or here.

Second Prize was awarded to Virginia Gogan (University of Western Australia), for an essay on whether Chinese investment in Australia represents a threat or an opportunity for our nation. The judges enjoyed an engaging interaction with Virginia and her further exploration of the themes of her essays in her interview. To read Virginia's essay, click the above link or here.

Third Prize was awarded to Adam Black (Griffith University), who considered the strengths and limitations of Section 128 of the Australian Constitution as a mechanism for regulating constitutional reform. The judges were particularly impressed with Adam’s verbal discussion of his topic and the further research he exhibited. To read his essay, click the above link or here.

Fourth Prize was awarded to Lyndon Goddard (University of New South Wales), who analysed the double dissolution mechanism in the Australian Constitution and the precedent of its use. The judges commented on the high quality of Lyndon’s essay and enjoyed the opportunity to speak with him. To read his essay, click the above link or here.

Will Barker (Griffith University) and Roger Allingham (Griffith University) were commended for their essays.

Following the conclusion of the judging, Chief Justice French stated “the essays were all very interesting and on disparate topics related to the Constitution and also, in one case, to Chinese investment in Australia... in interviewing the students who participated in the competition, we asked each of them questions about their essays, sometimes coming from directions which they might not have expected, which was a great challenge for them, and they all rose to it very well”.

Chief Justice French continued “the competition obviously advances the objectives of CEFA by trying to engage students right across the country in thinking about their Constitution, Australia’s place in the world and its relationship with others in a global community, both in a constitutional sense and in a larger sense of both international law and in the case of the China essay, our trade relations and the sorts of challenges and issues that confronts us with in dealing with very different cultures and governmental arrangements”.    

Chief Justice French concluded “on behalf of the judges, I would like to congratulate all of the students who participated... I wish all the participants well, and would like to take the opportunity to congratulate CEFA on organising this competition, which is now very well established and has a high profile and I hope that it may long continue”.

CEFA’s Executive Director, Mrs Kerry Jones, stated “I am delighted that the Governor-General’s Undergraduate Essay Competition, now in its seventh year, provides the opportunity for so many university students to engage with Australia’s Constitution and our vibrant democracy. The judges commented at the increased standard of this year’s entries, which is excellent to see. I would like to thank our distinguished panel of judges, the preliminary judges and the students who have been involved in the competition. I would like to congratulate the winners and also like to thank CEFA Research Scholar Joel Williams, who has done an exceptional job in managing the Competition”.

Winners will receive their awards and prizes at the Professor George Winterton Memorial Lecture in February next year.

To access the highly topical and engaging questions for the current Governor-General’s Undergraduate Essay Competition, go to www.essaycompetition.com.au The current competition closes on Monday, 20 December 2010 at 5pm AEST.

For media enquiries or queries regarding the essay competition, please contact Joel Williams on (02) 9251 8511 or

The 2010 Judging Panel of the Governor-General’s Undergraduate Essay Competition

 

From Left to Right: Mrs Kerry Jones (CEFA Executive Director), Professor Patrick Keyzer (Director of the Centre for Law, Governance and Public Policy, Faculty of Law, Bond University), The Hon Robert French AC (Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia, Chair of the Governor-General’s Undergraduate Essay Competition Judging Panel), Professor Gillian Triggs (Dean, University of Sydney Law School), Professor George Williams (Anthony Mason Professor, Faculty of Law, University of New South Wales), Professor Peter Gerangelos (Associate Professor, University of Sydney Law School).

 

 

 

 

The Judges Interview the Finalists via Telephone

 

Above From Left to Right: Professor Peter Gerangelos, Professor George Williams, Professor Gillian Triggs. 

Below from Left to Right: Mrs Kerry Jones, Professor Patrick Keyzer, The Hon Chief Justice Robert French AC.