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The prestigious Austin Asche Oration was delivered by Australia’s first Orthodox rabbi to become a Supreme Court judge.
Australia’s first Orthodox rabbi to become a Supreme Court judge took centre stage last week, delivering a powerful address at the prestigious Austin Asche Oration at Charles Darwin University.
Held on 9 July, the 15th annual Austin Asche Oration saw Justice Marcus Solomon turn his attention to one of Australia’s most enduring democratic debates – the delicate balance between freedom of political communication and social cohesion.
In his address, Justice Solomon specifically examined how growing social division, rising prejudice, and changing political discourse are creating new challenges for Australia’s courts and governments.
The landmark address reflected a remarkable career journey that has spanned more than three decades, from the legal profession to the Supreme Court bench.
Since being admitted to practice in 1991, Justice Solomon has built a distinguished career as a litigator and arbitrator, navigating complex commercial disputes across areas, including property, contracts, insolvency, construction, planning, and trade practices.
Justice Solomon joined the independent bar in 2006 and was appointed senior counsel in 2013, while also contributing to the profession by teaching advocacy to junior barristers through the Western Australian Bar Association.
In 2021, he was appointed to the Supreme Court of Western Australia, making history as the nation’s first Orthodox rabbi to serve on a Supreme Court bench.
Placing the tension between free speech and social cohesion at the heart of his address, Justice Solomon argued that protecting political communication is fundamental to democracy while confronting the challenges it can create for a divided society.
“The tension between freedom of speech and social cohesion is complicated and fraught, but it is a tension we must confront if we are to prevail as a civil society,” Justice Solomon said.
“The constitutional right to political communication is not merely a safeguard for individual expression; it is a precondition for democratic government.”
However, Justice Solomon warned that modern democracies must navigate the difficult task of protecting the freedom to speak while preserving the social cohesion that enables communities to remain connected.
“But the enduring challenge for civil society is ensuring that this freedom coexists with social cohesion.”
The Austin Asche Oration in Law and Governance is one of Charles Darwin University’s flagship annual events, honouring the legacy of the Honourable Austin Asche AC QC and his significant contributions to law, education, and public life in the Northern Territory.
