Michael Kirby, justice of the High Court of Australia, will
receive an honorary doctorate from the University of South Australia in a ceremony on
Friday 27 April, in recognition of his outstanding contribution of the community and to
the law, both nationally and internationally.
In a career which demonstrates a strong commitment to issues of human rights, community
health and ethical practices in science and research, Justice Kirby has given great energy
to community and public service beyond the formal callings of the legal profession.
In 1974, Justice Kirby was appointed Deputy President of the Australian Conciliation
and Arbitration Commission at the age of 35 years – the youngest person appointed to
a federal judicial office in Australia. Between 1975 and 1984, he served as foundation
Chair of the Australian Law Reform Commission, as well as serving on other national bodies
including the Administrative Review Council, the Australian Council of Multicultural
Affairs and the executive of the CSIRO. In 1984, he as appointed President of the News
South Wales Court of Appeal.
He has held numerous leading international posts. He has chaired two committees of the
OECD on privacy and data security and served as a member of the Global Commission on AIDS
in the World Health Organisation.
In November 1993, Justice Kirby was appointed Special Representative of the Secretary
General of the United Nations on Human Rights for Cambodia, a position he held until April
1996. In 1995, he was appointed to the Ethics Committee of the Human Genome Organisation
in London, monitoring the largest cooperative scientific project in history. In 1996, he
was appointed to the International Bioethics Committee of UNESCO. Appointed as a
commissioner of the International Commission of Jurists in 1984, he was elected ICJ
President in 1995.
His appointment to the High Court of Australia was made in February 1996.
In recognition of his contributions nationally and internationally, Justice Kirby was
created a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1983 and a Companion of
the Order of Australia, the highest civil honour awarded in Australia in 1991. In 1991, he
was also awarded the Australian Human Rights Medal. In 1998, he was named Laureate of the
UNESCO Prize for Human Rights Education.
Justice Kirby holds various honorary degrees of Doctor of Letter and Doctor of Laws,
but the UniSA honorary doctorate is the first he has received from an Australian
university in which he has not served on the university’s governing body. The
honorary doctorate reflects the University’s strongly wish to honour Justice
Kirby’s achievements in promoting the public good.
Justice Kirby will be awarded the honorary doctorate at the Adelaide Festival Centre,
King William St, at 3pm on Friday 27 April.
A copy of Justice Kirby’s speech is available under embargo by
telephoning Jessie Byrne on (08) 8302 0578 or AH on (08) 8355 0081.
