General Press Release No. 254 (November 2002)

NSW Chief Justice to give inaugural Press Council Free Speech Address

The Chief Justice of New South Wales, the Hon. James Spigelman, will give the Australian Press Council's inaugural annual address on freedom of speech on Wednesday (20 November).

Chief Justice Spigelman was a civil rights activist in the 1960s who, with Charlie Perkins, led the freedom rides for Aboriginal rights.

He was senior advisor and principal private secretary to Gough Whitlam when he was prime minister from 1972 to 1975.

As a barrister, he was the leading counsel in the landmark Lange case in which the High Court ruled that the Constitution gave an implied freedom of speech in political matters.

Chief Justice Spigelman will give his address on "The foundations of freedom of the press in Australia" at the Banco Court, on level 13 of the Supreme Court building in Queen's Square, at 5.30 p.m. on Wednesday.

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