Kep Enderby Memorial Lecture Series
Race Discrimination
About
The Australian Human Rights Commission has established the Kep Enderby Memorial Lecture to honour the memory of the Hon. Kep Enderby QC (1926-2015), who as Attorney-General introduced the Racial Discrimination Bill in the House of Representatives on 13 February 1975. The Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) came into force on 31 October 1975. The Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) is Australia’s first federal human rights and anti-discrimination legislation.
The Lecture is delivered annually by a leading figure to advance public understanding and debate about racism, race relations and the Racial Discrimination Act.
10th Annual Memorial Lecture – 1 November 2024
More than 1500 people tuned into the 2024 lecture to learn about ‘Dismantling systemic racism – perspectives from First Nations peoples’.
Systemic racism, in law, policies and service delivery, has serious and ongoing consequences for First Nations peoples, including poor mental and physical health, economic disadvantage, over-incarceration and social exclusion.
CEO of First Nations Collective Marni Tuala delivered the lecture, sharing the findings of extensive consultations with First Nations peoples across Australia about their experiences of racism.
ABC TV presenter Dan Bourchier facilitated a panel discussion with Marni Tuala, Luke Pearson from IndigenousX, and Commissioners Giridharan Sivaraman and Katie Kiss.
We heard about their experiences and the proposed solutions.
Read the report on the First Nations consultations.
9th Annual Memorial Lecture - 31 October 2023
Hundreds of people around the country gathered with experts to discuss one of the most pressing issues of our time: "Racism in Sport." This webinar came in response to the continued struggles faced by those harmed by racism in the world of sports and built upon decades of advocacy by the Commission.
The 2023 oration was delivered by Ellen Van Neerven. Ellen is an award-winning writer of Mununjali (Yugambeh language group – South East Queensland) and Dutch heritage. They write fiction, poetry, plays and non-fiction. Ellen spoke to their deep expertise in the topic of racism in the sporting sector, drawing on their latest book, “Personal Score: Sport, Culture, Identity.” This book is described as a ground-breaking examination of sport's troubled relationship with race, gender and sexuality that raises important questions about playing sport on stolen, sovereign land.
Following the Memorial Lecture, several leading experts formed a panel to discuss Racism in Sport, and the profound impact of the Women's World Cup.
Together, we can create a more inclusive and equitable sporting world for all.
Watch the 2023 'Racism in Sport' webinar recording on YouTube.
8th Annual Memorial Lecture - November 2022
The Australian Human Rights Commission has held its annual Kep Enderby Lecture, with this year’s keynote address given by the Attorney-General of Australia, The Hon Mark Dreyfus KC MP
We stand at an important moment in our nation’s development. The challenges we face to maintain a peaceful, harmonious, multicultural society are many. To ensure a country free of racial discrimination in which everyone has every chance to fully participate in society, we need to move from a space of ‘safe’ to ‘brave’ on issues affecting those who experience discrimination.
This lecture was an opportunity to hear from the Attorney-General on the Australian Government’s vision to advance human rights. The AG spoke to the Government’s commitments on:
- Justice for First Nations peoples and communities
- A National Anti-Racism Strategy
- Governance, integrity and transparency of human rights institutions
Following the Memorial Lecture, several leading experts formed a panel to discuss online hate and the need for legislative and other reforms.
Watch the 2022 'Human rights, anti-racism & reform' webinar recording on YouTube.
7th Annual Memorial Lecture - October 2021
The Australian Human Rights Commission has held its annual Kep Enderby Lecture, with this year’s keynote address given by acclaimed author Alice Pung.
The theme of the lecture was Embracing Cultural Diversity in Australia, and a panel discussion followed the lecture with panellists Kupakwashe Matangira, Zaahir Edries and Jidah Clark.
In her address, Ms Pung spoke powerfully about the power of language and the role it plays to both re-enforce and breakdown racial barriers.
“Australia is culturally diverse. That’s a given. But language is used to lock the working-class out of discussions about race.” said Ms Pung.
“You can’t just throw a book at someone and rail at them for being stubbornly ignorant for refusing to read it, when they work with their hands. They might’ve been fixing their Sri Lankan neighbour’s tap for free for the past six months. They might know this stuff already, innately, from working in a production line with Burmese refugees.
“Sure, some books and essays can change people’s thoughts, but we have to undertake the follow-through action instead of wallowing in the feelings of those books and essays – the feelings of guilt, discomfort, shame.
“Because it’s not our responsibility to be as patient as possible, as accomplished as possible, as generous as possible, to be accepted as Australians and to fix racism."
Watch the 2021 'Embracing Cultural Diversity in Australia' webinar recording on YouTube.
6th Annual Memorial Lecture - October 2020
Racial Equality in the Time of Coronavirus: How has Australia’s response to the Coronavirus pandemic affected diverse communities? What lessons can be learned? And how can we ensure diverse communities are included in the road to recovery?
These were the central questions for panellists during the 2020 Kep Enderby Memorial Lecture, which the Australian Human Rights Commission presented in partnership with the European Union Delegation to Australia.
Nyadol Nyuon, a previous winner of the Commission’s ‘Racism. It Stops With Me’ award, moderated the discussion. Panellists included Ahmed Dini, Diana Sayed and Jason Yat-Sen Li.
Mr Dini, a resident in the Melbourne towers that were subjected to a hard lockdown in July, said: “The year of COVID has shown the fault lines and also the pre-existing racism that exist within our society.”
He said the lockdown his community experienced “was the harshest and the hardest lockdown anywhere in the western world… and the reason we were all punished in this way is because we were seen as second-class citizens.”
Panellists discussed the significance of identity and storytelling in this context. They said stories about Australian values must be broadened out to include more diverse groups, because when only narrow stories are seen to represent Australian values it has the effect of ‘othering’ diverse communities.
Watch the 2020 'Racial Equity in the Time of Coronavirus' webinar recording on YouTube.
5th Annual Memorial Lecture - October 2019
The fifth annual Kep Enderby Memorial Lecture was given by Thomas Keneally AO, one of Australia’s best known and prolific writers. For the first time the lecture was followed by an in-depth conversation between Thomas Keneally and SBS World News presenter Janice Petersen.
You can read the Race Discrimination Commissioner's introductory remarks here and the full text of Mr Keneally’s speech here. You can also watch Mr Keneally’s speech here.
The Moveable Feast – Australia and race hate as experienced in the lifetime as an observer
Abstract: Mr Keneally’s lecture explores the history of race relations in Australia as seen through his eyes over the last several decades.
Speaker Biography:
Thomas Keneally AO is one of Australia's best known and prolific writers. He was born in 1935 and has written close to sixty novels and non-fiction works. He won the Booker Prize in 1982 for Schindler’s Ark, based on the life of Nazi Party member Oskar Schindler, who saved 1,200 Jews during World War II.
Tom has also won the Miles Franklin Award, the Los Angeles Times Prize, the Mondello International Prize, the Helmrich Award (US), the Trebbia International Prize from the Czech and Slovak governments. He has also been made a Literary Lion of the New York Public Library. He is recipient of the University of California gold medal, is an Officer of the Order of Australia, a National Living Treasure, and is now the subject of a 55 cent Australian stamp.
Tom is an ambassador for the Asylum Seekers Centre and recently co-authored A Country too Far, an anthology by 27 of Australia's finest writers about the asylum seeker experience.
4th Annual Memorial Lecture - June 2018
Leading public intellectual Professor Marcia Langton AM delivered the 4th Kep Enderby Memorial Lecture to a full house at the State Library of NSW on 12 June, saying the Racial Discrimination Act (RDA) has worked well since it became law and should not be amended or repealed.
In her lecture, Professor Langton paid tribute to Kep Enderby and his role in ensuring the RDA’s passage in Parliament.
Professor Langton (pictured with Race Discrimination Commissioner Tim Soutphommasane and Human Rights Commission President Rosalind Croucher) also highlighted the RDA’s critical role in underpinning the development of native title law, including in the landmark High Court’s second Mabo decision.
Professor Langton said the RDA has had a “civilising effect” on society, contributing to goodwill in a multicultural Australia.
In his introductory remarks, Race Discrimination Commissioner Tim Soutphommasane described Professor Langton as a fierce and fearless advocate and a “staunch and vigorous defender of racial equality”. Australian Human Rights Commission President Rosalind Croucher later delivered the vote of thanks.
Reflecting on the legislation, Commissioner Soutphommasane said the RDA remains much needed today, 43 years after its introduction.
“Throughout its history, the Act has had to contend with challenges to its existence and its integrity. Through all the contests and debates, our community has been clear that it believes the Racial Discrimination Act must be here to stay.
“There has been no prouder achievement for me during these past five years than to stand alongside First Peoples, countless ethnic communities, and the multitudes of Australians of goodwill to defend the Racial Discrimination Act.
3rd Annual Memorial Lecture - October 2017
Dr Tim Soutphommasane, Race Discrimination Commissioner, warmly invited the public to attend the third annual Kep Enderby Memorial Lecture on race relations. The lecture was established to honour the memory of Kep Enderby QC, who as Attorney General introduced the Racial Discrimination Act.
The 2017 lecture was delivered by Dr Jackie Huggins AM, FAHA, Co-Chair of the National Congress of Australia's First Peoples on Tuesday, 31 October 2017
Where: Barnet Long Room, Customs House
31 Alfred Street, Circular Quay, Sydney NSW 2000
2nd Annual Memorial Lecture - October 2016
The second annual Kep Enderby Memorial Lecture was given by David Morrison AO, Australian of the Year 2016.
This year's lecture also marked the introduction of the Race Discrimination Commissioner's Student Prize. An annual award which will be given to a student in Year 10 or 11 for an essay or speech that reflects on the question of racism in Australian Society. This year's prize winner was Mohamed Semra, a Year 11 student from Maribyrnong College in Victoria - read more here.
You can read the Race Discrimination Commissioner's introductory remarks here and the full text of Mr Morrison's speech here.
Girt by sea or girt by beach?
Abstract:
Mr Morrison examined how and why Australia is at its best when we embrace the world around us rather than turn inwards.
Speaker biography:
General Morrison concluded his appointment as Australia’s Chief of Army in May 2015. During a 36-year career as a soldier he saw operational service in Bougainville and East Timor and as an Australian Army Officer led troops from platoon level all the way up to three-star General - Chief of Army. His loyalty to his profession and outstanding performance was recognised by being made an Officer in the Order of Australia in 2010.
In his tenure at the top of Australia’s Army, David has faced many leadership challenges but he is probably best known for his strong public stance on gender equality and leading cultural change in large organisations. His three-minute address, via video, to his workforce in the wake of a particular instance of poor behaviour by a group of officers and senior soldiers, was posted on YouTube and has had over 1.6 million views. He has spoken about diversity and culture to the United Nations and at the Global Summit to Prevent Sexual Violence in Military Conflict.
The Australian Financial Review named David Morrison as one of Australia’s leading influences on culture in 2014 and Boss Magazine included him in its top dozen leaders in Australia in the same year. In 2015, David was appointed Chair of the Diversity Council Australia, appointed to the board of Our Watch.
1st Annual Memorial Lecture - October 2015
The innaugural Kep Enderby Memorial Lecture was given by the Hon. Robert French AC, Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia on the 40th anniversary of the Racial Discrimination Act coming into force.
Read the Race Discrimination Commissioner's introductory remarks here and you can watch the full address here.
The Racial Discrimination Act: A 40 Year Perspective
Abstract:
Kep Enderby, as Attorney General for the Commonwealth, introduced the Bill that became the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) (RDA) into the Parliament in February 1975. Since its enactment, the RDA has been tested constitutionally and in its application in the courts and has been the subject of continuing public debate. In this its fortieth year, it has a secure place as an important part of Australia's legal and social history. However, as Kep Enderby himself recognised, legislation can only go so far in achieving a change which must ultimately come from 'within the minds of the people'.
Speaker biography:
Robert Shenton French was appointed Chief Justice in September 2008. At the time of his appointment he was a judge of the Federal Court of Australia, having been appointed to that office in November 1986.
He graduated from the University of Western Australia in science and law. He was admitted in 1972 and practised as a barrister and solicitor in Western Australia until 1983 when he went to the Western Australian Bar. From 1994 to 1998 he was President of the National Native Title Tribunal. At the time of his appointment he was an additional member of the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory and a member of the Supreme Court of Fiji. He was also a Deputy President of the Australian Competition Tribunal and a part-time member of the Australian Law Reform Commission. From 2001 to January 2005 he was president of the Australian Association of Constitutional Law. Chief Justice French was appointed a Companion in the General Division of the Order of Australia in 2010.