Father Brennan reflects on human rights during Concannon Oration

Close to 250 academics, clergy and Toowoomba residents attended the 25th Concannon Oration at USQ earlier this month (September).

Jesuit priest, Aboriginal land rights activist, Officer of the Order of Australia and professor of law, human rights and social justice Professor Father Frank Brennan, SJ AO, was guest speaker at the event.

His address: Let There Be Light on Human Rights, Religion and the Law explored the five ‘prerequisites’ for the Catholic Church to play its proper role in the public square.

'It is a great honour for me to accept the invitation to deliver the 2010 Concannon Oration,' Father Brennan told the audience, 'especially on the day when three country independents have delivered parliamentary reforms while also determining the future government of the country, one of them being Bob Katter one of the more robust country Catholics to adorn the green leather of two of the nation’s parliamentary chambers.

'One of the great delights for me tonight is that I am in the electorate of my grandfather Frank Tenison Brennan after whom I am named. As priest and lawyer, I am delighted to have the opportunity within the diocese of Toowoomba to reflect on human rights, religion and the law.'

The full transcript of his speech can be found at: concannonoration

Concannon College Council Chair Pat Nunan said Father Brennan’s oration was extremely well received and the questions from the audience exceptional.

'The oration was testament to the standard we have come to expect from those presenting the Concannon Oration.'

Father Brennan is an adjunct fellow of the Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies at the Australian National University, professor of law at the Institute of Legal Studies at the Australian Catholic University and professor of human rights and social justice at the University of Notre Dame Australia.

He has written extensively on Aboriginal Land Rights and is the author of a number of books, including The Wik Debate, One Land One Nation, Sharing the Country, and Land Rights Queensland Style.

The Concannon Oration is held at USQ annually for eminent orators from the professions, the sciences, the arts, the Catholic Church and members of the public to address topics relevant to today’s world.

An academic procession was held during the Oration and the presentation followed by a cocktail reception hosted by USQ’s Residential Colleges.

A photograph gallery of the event can be viewed at: Concannon Oration 2010