May 31, 2022

UOW experts available for comment (31 May - 4 June)

UOW academics provide expert comment, opinion and analysis on a range of ongoing and breaking news stories

SEXUAL CONSENT REFORMS ACT – 1 JUNE

Professor Julia Quilter welcomes changes to sexual consent laws, which come into effect on Wednesday (1 June
2022). She says: “One of the big changes will be that if a person doesn’t say or do anything to indicate they’re
consenting, they won’t have consented. That’s to get over what has been understood as the ‘freeze response’.”

Professor Quilter has been engaged to provide training to legal professionals in relation to the recent reforms to
consent laws introduced by the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Sexual Consent Reforms) Act 2021 (NSW). She
enjoys a national and international reputation for research excellence in the field of criminal law and justice.
Professor Quilter is from the School of Law.

NEW LIBERAL PARTY LEADER PETER DUTTON & REPLACEMENT OF BARNABY JOYCE

is an election analyst who can talk about Peter Dutton being named as the new leader of the Liberal Party and the replacement of Barnaby Joyce with David Littleproud for the National Party.

Professor Melleuish is a lecturer and researcher with expertise in political theory, Australian politics, ancient
history and world history. He is from the School of Humanities and Social Inquiry.

PACIFIC ISLANDS AND CHINA TRADE AND SECURITY DEAL

Dr Charles Hawksley can discuss Pacific Island countries agreeing not to sign a region-wide trade and security deal with China. The Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Studies is an expert on food security, state building, police building, intervention, aid and development in the region.

US GUN REFORM

Dr Luis Gómez Romero says ideology is one of the barriers to achieving gun reform in the US, he also says the funding of political campaigns by the National Rifle Association (NRA) plays a role. Dr Gomez Romero is a Senior Lecturer in Human Rights, Constitutional Law and Legal Theory. He is from the School of Law.

IMPROVING WAGES FOR AGED CARE STAFF

Associate Professor Martin O’Brien can comment on efforts to increase wages for aged care workers. Associate Professor O’Brien is an economist and the Director of the Centre for Human and Social Capital Research. His research interests include segmented labour market theory, econometrics, older worker employment issues and hidden unemployment.

WHY CHILDREN DISLIKE SCHOOL AND WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT

Professor Penny Van Bergen says for some students, dislike for school can become pervasive – they dislike
almost everything about it. In a recent story for The Conversation she writes: “Some of these students may drop
out of school, which has serious implications for their future job prospects, financial security and quality of
life.” Professor Van Bergen is an expert in educational psychology and Head of the School of Education.

RECONCILIATION WEEK – 27 MAY TO 3 JUNE

says National Reconciliation Week was a time to celebrate the achievements of Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander peoples: “We must remember as a collective that reconciliation is everybody’s business. We
need to move beyond the ‘when in doubt, leave it out’ way of thinking and work towards developing the tools
necessary to foster fairer and more truthful relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.” Ms
Small is a proud Wiradjuri woman and Manager Projects for Indigenous Advancement at UOW.

UOW academics exercise academic freedom by providing expert commentary, opinion and analysis on a range of ongoing social issues and current affairs. This expert commentary reflects the views of those individual academics and does not necessarily reflect the views or policy positions of the University of Wollongong.