Call for Papers for 2024 National Administrative Law Conference in Canberra, proposals requested by 23 February 2024
Difficult conversations – values and administrative law
2024 National Administrative Law Conference
Thursday 18 and Friday 19 July 2024
Hotel Realm, 18 National Circuit
Barton, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
The AIAL National Administrative Law Conference is Australia’s pre-eminent administrative law
conference, having been held each year since 1991 (except in 2020, due to COVID-19
restrictions). The 2024 Conference will be the 33rd National Administrative Law Conference.
The aim of the Conference is to provide those involved or interested in Australian administrative
law with the opportunity to discuss contemporary issues, share practical experiences and
consider future developments. The 2024 Conference will be hosted by the National Executive
Committee of the Institute.
THE 2024 CONFERENCE THEME
The overarching theme for the 2024 AIAL National Administrative Law Conference is
Difficult conversations – values and administrative law.
Recent detailed scrutiny by the courts, Royal Commissions, commissions of inquiry and
administrative tribunals has highlighted the importance of having robust and defensible processes
to ensure the lawfulness of governmental actions and address deficiencies in administrative
decision-making across all levels of government. These matters continue to be the subject of
intense social and legal commentary.
The 2024 Conference will explore the resetting of priorities and approaches in light of these
significant findings and the considerable public disquiet that has followed. This will be examined
through the lens of returning to basic yet fundamental principles of modern administrative law
based on values, ethics and integrity.
This topic invites consideration of a broad range of current and future-focussed issues. We seek
papers that explore emerging issues, analyse lessons learned and suggest ways forward,
particularly those that address the following subthemes as they impact on administrative law:
• What it means to be in public service, by considering the ethics of being a Minister or a public
servant and the core values that need to be demonstrated as well as the operation of
associated integrity frameworks
• The role of values and ethics in administrative decision-making, including whether, and if so
how, these should inform and guide appropriate actions and lawful outcomes, and whether
there are new or emerging values which should be incorporated in the administrative law
regime (illustrated by discussion of particular examples – such as ethical considerations
associated with proposals to use and share health and other personal information and the
extent to which environmental values and goals can inform decisions)
• Addressing and implementing the recommendations made by Royal Commissions,
commissions of inquiry and other reviews, by examining the scope and effectiveness of
responses in recent examples and suggesting ways to ensure real and enduring change
• The values and ethics informing judicial and merits review mechanisms, and the reach and
redesign of administrative law tribunals and courts
• Protections for whistleblowers and responses to whistleblowing, including the introduction of
specific oversight bodies, and
• Ensuring the ethical use of automation and artificial intelligence in administrative decisionmaking.
The Institute encourages contributions on these Conference subthemes but is also interested in
finding space for those with fresh perspectives or ideas not reflected in the suggested range of
topics above. The Conference will provide a stimulating mixture of practical sessions and more
reflective and thought-provoking presentations. The Conference will enable review to be
undertaken of key aspects of the current state of administrative law in the Commonwealth, States
and Territories, and overseas.
CALL FOR PAPERS
The Institute calls for potential papers on our theme to be presented at the Conference.
Please send written proposals for a paper by Friday 23 February 2024 by email to:
aial@commercemgt.com.au or by post to: AIAL, PO Box 83, Deakin West ACT 2600.
PUBLICATION OF PAPERS
Conference speakers will be asked to prepare papers, which will be made available to those
attending the Conference. Selected papers may also be published in the Institute’s journal,
AIAL Forum. Papers may be refereed, if requested by the contributor.
CONFERENCE VENUE
The 2024 National Administrative Law Conference will commence at 1:00pm on Thursday
18 July 2024 and conclude at 4:30pm on Friday 19 July 2024. All Conference sessions will be
held at the Hotel Realm.
CONFERENCE DISPLAYS
The 2024 Conference will be attended by a diverse audience of practitioners, academics, policy
makers and decision makers. Please contact the Conference organisers to discuss a Conference
display.
CONTACT DETAILS
For enquiries about the program or to discuss a possible paper, please contact:
• Tara McNeilly, Secretary, AIAL National Executive Committee
(E: tara.mcneilly@ags.gov.au; T: 02 6253 7374), or
• Sue Hart, AIAL Business Manager AIAL Secretariat
(E: aial@commercemgt.com.au; T: 02 6290 1505