Contested Politics of the New Justice. Restorative justice (RJ) and Indigenous justice (IJ) are transforming responses to crime by emphasising informal processes and community-based decisions. With growth has come contestation over the potential benefits and pitfalls of these new justice forms. The project analyses evidence from Australia, New Zealand, and Canada in two areas: debates among feminist and victim advocacy groups on using RJ for sexual and physical violence, and debates among Indi ....Contested Politics of the New Justice. Restorative justice (RJ) and Indigenous justice (IJ) are transforming responses to crime by emphasising informal processes and community-based decisions. With growth has come contestation over the potential benefits and pitfalls of these new justice forms. The project analyses evidence from Australia, New Zealand, and Canada in two areas: debates among feminist and victim advocacy groups on using RJ for sexual and physical violence, and debates among Indigenous and non-Indigenous people on the merits of IJ. The project will show when RJ is appropriate, what IJ practices are meaningful, and where common ground exists for feminist and Indigenous social movements.Read moreRead less
Innovative Justice Responses to Sexual Violence: A Global Analysis. Aligned with United Nations initiatives to end violence against women, Australian governments have emphasised that gender violence is a crime. This is correct, but the practical problem is what to do next. The project will benefit Australia by identifying innovative ways of responding to sexual violence that are practical, effective, and meaningful for victims' justice needs and economically viable for government. In taking ....Innovative Justice Responses to Sexual Violence: A Global Analysis. Aligned with United Nations initiatives to end violence against women, Australian governments have emphasised that gender violence is a crime. This is correct, but the practical problem is what to do next. The project will benefit Australia by identifying innovative ways of responding to sexual violence that are practical, effective, and meaningful for victims' justice needs and economically viable for government. In taking a global perspective, more imaginative responses to violence in Australian Indigenous communities will be identified. In studying countries where Australia has a security and peacekeeping presence, the role of those forces in maintaining security for women and children can be enhanced. Read moreRead less
Understanding reactions to diversity initiatives in organizations: An intergroup perspective. Current policy and legislation promote diversity in organizations,
however employees often react negatively to diversity initiatives
that assist specific groups (e.g., women). Explanations attributing
negativity to individual factors (e.g., self interest) or to broad
organizational culture are limited. Diversity initiatives highlight
differences between the beneficiary and non-beneficiary group(s) ....Understanding reactions to diversity initiatives in organizations: An intergroup perspective. Current policy and legislation promote diversity in organizations,
however employees often react negatively to diversity initiatives
that assist specific groups (e.g., women). Explanations attributing
negativity to individual factors (e.g., self interest) or to broad
organizational culture are limited. Diversity initiatives highlight
differences between the beneficiary and non-beneficiary group(s) and
a comprehensive model should incorporate an intergroup perspective.
It should also recognise the legitimising role of justice-based
concerns. In testing such a model, this project will contribute to
theories of intergroup relations and their interplay with social
policy, and to the development of strategies to manage workplace
diversity.
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Impaired jury decision-making: The impact of stereotypes in the Australian court room. There have been calls for reforms and overhauls of the jury system in Australia because of concerns about the ability of jurors to reach objective verdicts and concerns about the costs associated with the jury system; however the consequences of these proposed changes for jury functioning are not well understood. This research will provide a better understanding those factors that contribute to impaired jury d ....Impaired jury decision-making: The impact of stereotypes in the Australian court room. There have been calls for reforms and overhauls of the jury system in Australia because of concerns about the ability of jurors to reach objective verdicts and concerns about the costs associated with the jury system; however the consequences of these proposed changes for jury functioning are not well understood. This research will provide a better understanding those factors that contribute to impaired jury decision-making, helping to avoid the very real risk of any changes to the jury system resulting in profound and unpredictable changes to the functioning of the legal system. By doing so, the concerns of people calling for drastic reforms can be addressed without socially and economically expensive overhauls of the jury system.Read moreRead less
Spinoza, Kant and Deleuze on freedom and ethical difference: an immanent approach. Transcendent moral philosophies, such as those in the Kantian tradition, have significant disadvantages when it comes to developing ethical and political tools for multicultural communities such as Australia, as they lack the flexibility to negotiate between moral and religious groupings adhering to competing moral absolutes. In using Deleuze's thought to develop a non-transcendent or immanent approach to ethics, ....Spinoza, Kant and Deleuze on freedom and ethical difference: an immanent approach. Transcendent moral philosophies, such as those in the Kantian tradition, have significant disadvantages when it comes to developing ethical and political tools for multicultural communities such as Australia, as they lack the flexibility to negotiate between moral and religious groupings adhering to competing moral absolutes. In using Deleuze's thought to develop a non-transcendent or immanent approach to ethics, the project seeks to address this problem. It will provide a means of negotiating this plurality of beliefs without recourse to transcendent or universal values, or to any one dominant moral code. This approach aims to have a marked impact on national debate over the philosophical and practical possibilities of such an ethics.Read moreRead less