Overview
Background
Associate Professor Rebecca Ananian-Welsh is a constitutional law scholar and Editor of the University of Queensland Law Journal at the TC Beirne School of Law. Her research focuses on courts, national security and press freedom and she has published widely in these fields, including more than 25 journal articles, two edited collections and a monograph. Her present research focuses on the nature of courts under the Constitution, and the protection of press freedom.
Rebecca's research in national security, press freedom and fair trial principles has been recognised in an Academy of Social Sciences in Australia’s Paul Bourke Award for Early Career Research and a UQ BEL Faculty award. Her book 'The Tim Carmody Affair: Australia's Greatest Judicial Crisis' (co-authored with Profs Gabrielle Appleby and Andrew Lynch), was shortlisted for a Queensland Literary Award and her Sydney Law Review article 'The Inherent Jurisdiction of Courts and the Fair Trial' has been shortlisted for the 2020 Article of the Year in the Australian Legal Research Awards.
Prior to joining UQ, Rebecca held positions at UNSW Law with the Laureate Fellowship Project 'Anti-Terror Laws and the Democratic Challenge' and the Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Public Law's Terrorism & Law Project, as a litigation solicitor at DLA Piper, and as a legal officer with the Federal Attorney-General's Department.
Availability
- Dr Rebecca Ananian-Welsh is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Arts, University of Wollongong
- Bachelor (Honours) of Law, University of Wollongong
- Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice, University of Wollongong
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of New South Wales
Research interests
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National Security Law and Policy
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Courts and judges
The judicial branch, fair trial rights, open justice, and the interpretation and application of Chapter III of the Australian Constitution
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Press freedom
Particular focuses on the impact of counter-terrorism and national security law on press freedom, including: source protection, data privacy, the 'chilling effect', law enforcement and intelligence powers, and options for maximising both security and democracy.
Research impacts
Rebecca contributes to the development of constitutional law, institutional integrity and academia through involvement in numerous committees. Her present positions include:
- Council of the Australian Association of Constitutional Law;
- Australian Judicial Officers Association Inaugural Standing Committee on Judicial Independence;
- Centre for Public Integrity, Accountability Institutions Committee; and
- The inaugural Executive Committee of the SHAPE Futures Network (a joint initiative of the Australian Academies of the Humanities and Social Sciences to support early and mid-career researchers).
Rebecca writes regularly for The Conversation, has given evidence to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, Independent National Security Legislation Monitor, Australian Law Reform Commission and other federal and state inquiries, and has contributed to numerous submissions to government with respect to national security and constitutional issues.
Works
Search Professor Rebecca Ananian-Welsh’s works on UQ eSpace
Featured
2017
Book
Regulating preventive justice: principle, policy and paradox
Tamara Tulich, Rebecca Ananian-Welsh, Simon Bronitt and Sarah Murray eds. (2017). Regulating preventive justice: principle, policy and paradox. New York: Routledge.
Featured
2016
Book
Judicial independence in Australia: contemporary challenges, future directions
Rebecca Ananian-Welsh and Jonathan Crowe eds. (2016). Judicial independence in Australia: contemporary challenges, future directions. Annandale, Australia: Federation Press.
Featured
2015
Journal Article
Preventative detention orders and the separation of judicial power
Ananian-Welsh, Rebecca (2015). Preventative detention orders and the separation of judicial power. University of New South Wales Law Journal, 38 (2), 756-791.
Featured
2015
Journal Article
Kuczborski v Queensland and the Scope of the Kable Doctrine
Ananian-Welsh, Rebecca (2015). Kuczborski v Queensland and the Scope of the Kable Doctrine. University of Queensland Law Journal, 34 (1), 47-71.
Featured
2014
Journal Article
The new terrorists: The normalisation and spread of anti-terror laws in Australia
Ananian-Welsh, Rebecca and Williams, George (2014). The new terrorists: The normalisation and spread of anti-terror laws in Australia. Melbourne University Law Review, 38 (2), 362-408.
Featured
2012
Journal Article
A path to purposive formalism: interpreting Chapter III for judicial independence and impartiality
Welsh, Rebecca (2012). A path to purposive formalism: interpreting Chapter III for judicial independence and impartiality. Monash University Law Review, 39 (1), 66-105.
2024
Conference Publication
AZC20 v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs (What is a Matter?)
Ananian-Welsh, Rebecca (2024). AZC20 v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs (What is a Matter?). Constitutional Law Speed Dating: Four Cases in Forty Minutes, Crown Law, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 8 November 2024.
2024
Conference Publication
Benbrika II, Jones and Punishment by Post- Conviction Citizenship Revocation
Ananian-Welsh, Rebecca (2024). Benbrika II, Jones and Punishment by Post- Conviction Citizenship Revocation. Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Public Law Constitutional Law Conference, Gilbert + Tobin Lawyers, Sydney, Australia, 9 February 2024.
2024
Book
Blackshield and Williams Australian constitutional law and theory: commentary and materials
Ananian-Welsh, Rebecca, Brennan, Sean, Lynch, Andrew, Stephenson, Peta and Williams, George (2024). Blackshield and Williams Australian constitutional law and theory: commentary and materials. 8th ed. Alexandria, NSW, Australia: The Federation Press.
2023
Other Outputs
David McBride is facing jailtime for helping reveal alleged war crimes. Will it end whistleblowing in Australia?
Ananian-Welsh, Rebecca (2023, 11 20). David McBride is facing jailtime for helping reveal alleged war crimes. Will it end whistleblowing in Australia? The Conversation
2023
Conference Publication
AZC20 v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs (what is a matter?)
Ananian-Welsh, Rebecca (2023). AZC20 v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs (what is a matter?). Constitutional law speed dating: four cases in forty minutes, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 8 November 2023.
2023
Other Outputs
Is a terrorist’s win in the High Court bad for national security? Not necessarily
Ananian-Welsh, Rebecca (2023, 11 02). Is a terrorist’s win in the High Court bad for national security? Not necessarily The Conversation
2023
Conference Publication
What is a Court? (And why do constitutional lawyers care so much?)
Ananian-Welsh, Rebecca (2023). What is a Court? (And why do constitutional lawyers care so much?). The International Society of Public Law 9th Annual Conference, Wellington, New Zealand, 3-5 July 2023.
2023
Other Outputs
Submission on the Review into the Operation and Effectiveness of the National Security Information (Criminal and Civil Proceedings) Act 2004 (Cth)
Ananian-Welsh, Rebecca and Whitsed, William (2023). Submission on the Review into the Operation and Effectiveness of the National Security Information (Criminal and Civil Proceedings) Act 2004 (Cth). https://www.inslm.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-06/7-dr-rebecca-ananian-welsh-and-william-whitsed.pdf: INSLM.
2023
Other Outputs
Submission on the Constitutional Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023
Ananian-Walsh, Rebecca, Billings, Peter, Cassimatis Am, Anthony, Larkin, Dani and Lino, Dylan (2023). Submission on the Constitutional Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023 . Submission Number 77. Joint Select Committee on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice Referendum .
2023
Journal Article
Protecting the Press from Search and Seizure: Comparative Lessons for the Australian Reform Agenda
Ananian-Welsh, Rebecca and Bosland, Jason (2023). Protecting the Press from Search and Seizure: Comparative Lessons for the Australian Reform Agenda. Melbourne University Law Review, 46 (3), 602-655.
2022
Conference Publication
The most pressing issues facing Australian early and mid-career academics in the Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts and how to solve them
Ananian-Welsh, Rebecca, Midford, Sarah, Barnett, Tully and Stannard, Georgia (2022). The most pressing issues facing Australian early and mid-career academics in the Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts and how to solve them. Congress of the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 25 November-2 December 2022.
2022
Other Outputs
Journalists must be protected in police investigations. Here’s our five point plan for reform
Ananian-Welsh, Rebecca and Bosland, Jason (2022, 10 28). Journalists must be protected in police investigations. Here’s our five point plan for reform The Conversation
2022
Journal Article
Who is a journalist? A critical analysis of Australian statutory definitions
Ananian-Welsh, Rebecca (2022). Who is a journalist? A critical analysis of Australian statutory definitions. Federal Law Review, 50 (4), 449-478. doi: 10.1177/0067205x221126583
2022
Conference Publication
Minister for Home Affairs v Benbrika [2021] HCA 4
Ananian-Welsh, Rebecca (2022). Minister for Home Affairs v Benbrika [2021] HCA 4. Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Public Law Annual Conference, Sydney, NSW Australia, 11 February 2022.
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Rebecca Ananian-Welsh is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
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Constitutional Law
Potential projects may concern:
- Courts, Tribunals and Judges
- Chapter III of the Australian Constitution
- The separation of powers
- Judicial and Non-Judicial Detention and Sanctions
- Jurisdiction
- Procedural fairness and due process
- Implied rights and freedoms
- Constitutional theory and interpretation
For further information contact Dr Rebecca Ananian-Welsh, e: rebecca.aw@law.uq.edu.au
-
National security law
Potential projects may concern:
- Public law and human rights challenges presented by national security law
- The migration, normalisation and impacts of national security laws
For further information contact Dr Rebecca Ananian-Welsh, e: rebecca.aw@law.uq.edu.au
-
Press Freedom
Potential projects may include:
- Legal protections and threats to press freedom, including by national security law and policy
For further information contact Dr Rebecca Ananian-Welsh, e: rebecca.aw@law.uq.edu.au
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Informality in State and Territory Combined Jurisdiction Tribunals
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Anthony Cassimatis, Professor Rick Bigwood
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Master Philosophy
Preventive Justice and Cyber-Surveillance
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Rebecca Wallis
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Doctor Philosophy
A Critical Analysis of the Deployment of Indonesian Military Forces in Domestic Counterterrorism Operations
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Rain Liivoja
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Doctor Philosophy
Representative Democracy and Political Constitutionalism in Practice: Opposition to Indigenous Representative Bodies in Australia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Dylan Lino, Professor Graeme Orr
Completed supervision
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
An Examination and Reconsideration of Fair Collection under the Australian Privacy Act in the Context of Retail Analytics and Big Data
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Alan Davidson
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
The Nature of Constitutions: A Theory of Genuine and Pseudo Constitutions
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Nicholas Aroney
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Rebecca Ananian-Welsh directly for media enquiries about:
- Constitutional Law
- counter-terrorism
- courts
- human rights
- judges
- National Security Law
- Press freedom
- Public Law
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