Overview
Background
The law of politics, in particular electoral law, is Professor Graeme Orr's primary research expertise. He has authored The Law of Politics (1st edn 2010, 2nd edn 2019) and Ritual and Rhythm in Electoral Systems (2015), co-authored The Law of Deliberative Democracy (2016), co-edited Realising Democracy (2003), Electoral Democracy: Australian Prospects (2011) and The Cambridge Handbook of Deliberative Constitutionalism (2018) and edited 3 symposia on the law of politics. His doctoral thesis explored the nature and regulation of electoral bribery. In the field of the law of politics, he does consultancy and pro bono work, and regular media commentary. Graeme has published over 100 commentary pieces in both the traditional press and online outlets.
Graeme has also published extensively in labour law, the law of negligence and on issues of language and law. Currently he is the legal adviser on the NSW Electoral Commission’s iVote panel and was recently part of the Australian Republican Movement’s Constitutional Advisory Board that drafted a model for an elected Head of State.
An Associate to two judges in the Federal Court of Australia and solicitor of the Queensland Supreme Court, prior to joining UQ Graeme was also an Associate Professor at Griffith University, where he taught for 13 years. In recent times he has been international editor of the Election Law Journal and board member of the Australian Journal of Labour Law. He was formerly managing editor of the Griffith Law Review, columnist with the Alternative Law Journal on sport's links to law, and employment law columnist with the Australian Journal of Administrative Law. He currently authors the entry on Australia for The Annual Register, a 257 year old almanac of world affairs.
He has been elected as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law (2014) and the Australian Academy of Social Sciences (2020).
Availability
- Professor Graeme Orr is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Arts, The University of Queensland
- Bachelor of Law, The University of Queensland
- Masters (Coursework) of Law, University College London
- Postgraduate Diploma in Education, Griffith University
- Doctor of Philosophy, Griffith University
Research interests
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Law of politics: parliamentary law and electoral law
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Non-instrumental approaches to Law and Politics (ritual, symbols, language)
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Labour and employment law
Works
Search Professor Graeme Orr’s works on UQ eSpace
2006
Book Chapter
Government advertising: Parliament and political equality
Orr, Graeme (2006). Government advertising: Parliament and political equality. Images, Colours and Reflections: Lectures in the Senate Occasional Lecture Series 2005–2006. (pp. 1-20) edited by Kay Walsh. Canberra, Australia: Department of the Senate.
2006
Conference Publication
The Constitutionality of "Workchoices"
Orr, Graeme (2006). The Constitutionality of "Workchoices". Industrial Relations Society of Queensland/Griffith University School of Industrial Relations, Brisbane, March 2006.
2005
Journal Article
Impaired judgements? Alcohol server liability and ‘personal responsibility’ after Cole v South Tweed Heads Rugby League Football Club Ltd
Orr, Graeme and Dale, Gregory (2005). Impaired judgements? Alcohol server liability and ‘personal responsibility’ after Cole v South Tweed Heads Rugby League Football Club Ltd. Torts Law Journal, 13 (2), 103-128.
2005
Journal Article
Electoral reform as a tonic for referenda and federalism: a response to Professor Craven
Orr, Graeme (2005). Electoral reform as a tonic for referenda and federalism: a response to Professor Craven. Australasian Parliamentary Review, 20 (2), 83-94.
2005
Conference Publication
Unauthorised Workers and the Law
Orr, Graeme (2005). Unauthorised Workers and the Law. Labour Law, Equity and Efficiency (Rethinking Labour Law) Conference, Melbourne University, July 2005.
2005
Book Chapter
Public administration: Elections
Orr, Graeme (2005). Public administration: Elections. Halsbury's Laws of Australia. (pp. 521-645-521-723) edited by Harry Gibbs. Sydney, Australia: Butterworths.
2005
Conference Publication
Seminar on Courts of Disputed Returns
Orr, Graeme (2005). Seminar on Courts of Disputed Returns. Queensland Supreme Court Judges' Conference, Brisbane, August 2005.
2005
Book Chapter
Australia
Orr, Graeme (2005). Australia. Lobbying, Government Relations, and Campaign Finance: Navigating the Laws, Regulations and Practices of National Regimes. (pp. 1-14) edited by D. Grant Thomas. Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.: Oceana / Oxford University Press.
2005
Conference Publication
Government Advertising and the Law
Orr, Graeme (2005). Government Advertising and the Law. Political Finance and Government Advertising workshop, Canberra, February 2005.
2005
Conference Publication
Industrial Action Ballots and the "Workchoices" Regime
Orr, Graeme (2005). Industrial Action Ballots and the "Workchoices" Regime. Forum for Queensland Unions, Brisbane, November, 2005.
2005
Conference Publication
"No Worries Mate": Disclosure Law in Australia's Laissez-Fair Campaign Finance Law
Orr, Graeme (2005). "No Worries Mate": Disclosure Law in Australia's Laissez-Fair Campaign Finance Law. Mid-West Political Science Association, Chicago, April 2005.
2004
Book
Australian electoral systems - How well do they serve political equality?
Orr, Graeme (2004). Australian electoral systems - How well do they serve political equality?. Canberra, A.C.T.: The Australian National University.
2004
Journal Article
Electoral Law Symposium: An Introduction
Orr, Graeme, Mercurio, Bryan and Williams, George (2004). Electoral Law Symposium: An Introduction. Federal Law Review, 32 (3), 357-363.
2004
Journal Article
The Ritual and Aesthetic in Electoral Law
Orr, Graeme (2004). The Ritual and Aesthetic in Electoral Law. Federal Law Review, 32 (3), 425-450.
2003
Journal Article
Law and rugby league as communal lifelines
Orr, Graeme (2003). Law and rugby league as communal lifelines. Alternative Law Journal, 28 (6), 302-303.
2003
Journal Article
Australian Electoral Law: A Stocktake
Orr, Graeme, Mercurio, Bryan and Williams, George (2003). Australian Electoral Law: A Stocktake. Election Law Journal, 2 (3), 383-402. doi: 10.1089/153312903322146618
2003
Journal Article
Voluntarism. Ambition or service?: Peter Costello on civil society
Orr, Graeme (2003). Voluntarism. Ambition or service?: Peter Costello on civil society. Alternative Law Journal, 28 (4), 197-198.
2003
Book Chapter
The Australian Electoral Tradition (Introduction)
Orr, Graeme, Mercurio, Bryan and Williams, George (2003). The Australian Electoral Tradition (Introduction). Realising Democracy: Electoral law in Australia. (pp. 1-6) edited by G. Orr, B. Mercurio and G. Williams. Annandale, NSW, Australia: Federation Press.
2003
Journal Article
Precarious liability: The High Court in Lepore, Samin and Rich on school responsibility for assaults by teachers (Case notes)
White, Steven and Orr, Graeme (2003). Precarious liability: The High Court in Lepore, Samin and Rich on school responsibility for assaults by teachers (Case notes). Torts Law Journal, 11 (2), 101-116.
2003
Journal Article
Ghosts of the Civil Dead: Prisoner Disenfranchisement
Graeme Orr (2003). Ghosts of the Civil Dead: Prisoner Disenfranchisement. Democratic Audit of Australia
Funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Graeme Orr is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Representative Democracy and Political Constitutionalism in Practice: Opposition to Indigenous Representative Bodies in Australia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Rebecca Ananian-Welsh, Dr Dylan Lino
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Doctor Philosophy
Proposed PhD - Disability within the judiciary: An analysis of the barriers for lawyers with visual disabilities to be appointed to the judicial branch of government in New Zealand and Australia.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Paul Harpur
Completed supervision
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2023
Master Philosophy
Forward with fairness: conceptualising just transition for Australian labour law and the coal-fired power generation industry
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Justine Bell-James
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Securing Freedom of Information in Vietnamese Government and Law
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Peter Billings
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Constitutional Transformations: Failure and Opportunity in Post-Independence South Sudan
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Caitlin Goss
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Locating the Public in Australian Public Enterprise: Reinforcing the Public Objectives and Public Accountability of Australian Government-Owned Businesses
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ross Grantham
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
A Government for a Sovereign People: The Expectations and Intentions of the Framers of the Australian Constitution regarding Responsible Government
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Nicholas Aroney
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Graeme Orr directly for media enquiries about:
- constitutional law
- Employment and labour law
- Language and law
- Law of elections
- Law of politics
- Political Parties and Finance
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