The Hon. Murray Gleeson AC QC
One privilege I have as a member of the NSW Parliament is to lead a number of Christian activities within the Parliament. One is a monthly lunchtime meeting in the Parliamentary Theatre called Christian Focus on Society when I introduce outstanding Christian speakers on issues that confront society from a Christian perspective.
Another is to organize and lead the Parliamentary Christian fellowship every Thursday Parliament is sitting. We currently have twenty four politicians from both sides of the House and two Cross bench members who attend regularly. Each member in turn brings a Bible passage for meditation, often with their own thoughts on how this passage has been a blessing to the member recently, and then all contribute prayer points and pray.
Once a year I organize an Annual Prayer luncheon inviting all politicians and church leaders to meet together for fellowship, hear an outstanding Christian speaker, and to join together in prayer for our nation. Everyone at the luncheon joins in a group of ten to pray, and it is exciting to hear the buzz of prayers from all present. This year on Thursday 24th September, the Strangers Dining Room at Parliament House was filled with the prayers of all those present.
Testimony was given by several members from both Upper and Lower Houses on the significance of the weekly prayer meeting in their personal and professional lives. Three other “pollies” read scriptural passages in line with the theme of the day, which was God’s Law and Our Obedience.
I welcomed the guest speaker, the Hon Murray Gleeson AC QC, Former Chief Justice of The High Court of Australia.
Throughout his judicial and professional career, The Hon. Murray Gleeson AC has advocated for judicial independence that bows to no power but to the supremacy of law. With an array of accomplishments to his name, the former Chief Justice of the High Court has demonstrated a sensitive awareness of the relationship between law, morality, ethics and values.
The Hon. Murray Gleeson AC attended St Joseph’s, the Catholic boarding school in Hunters Hill. A Commonwealth scholarship then led him to the University of Sydney where he graduated with first class honours in Arts and Law. His graduating class of 1962 included former Prime Minister John Howard and former fellow High Court judge Michael Kirby.
He was admitted to the New South Wales Bar in 1963. From 1963 to 1965, he was a tutor in law at St Paul’s College in Sydney University. From 1965 to 1974, Murray Gleeson was a part-time lecturer in company law in Sydney University.
The Hon. Murray Gleeson was appointed a Queen’s Counsel in 1974, achieving an extensive constitutional, commercial and tax practice. President of the New South Wales Bar Association from 1984 to 1985, he received the Officer of the Order of Australia for services to law.
From November 1988 to May 1998, Murray Gleeson was the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales. During his time as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, he was elected an Honorary Master of the Bench at Middle Temple in 1989. Murray Gleeson was also the Lieutenant-Governor of New South Wales from July 1989 to May 1998.
The Hon. Murray Gleeson was made a Companion of the Order of Australia for services to the law and to the Crown in 1992, and in 2000 he was awarded the Centenary Medal. The Hon. Murray Gleeson was appointed to the High Court as Chief Justice of Australia in May 1998, an esteemed position which he held for 10 years.
In May 1999, Murray Gleeson was conferred the honorary degree of the Doctor of Laws by The University of Sydney. In April 2001, Griffith University awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of the University to Murray Gleeson, in recognition of his distinguished contributions to the legal community. In April 2005, The Hon. Murray Gleeson was awarded Australian Catholic University’s highest honour, Doctor of the University.
The Hon. Murray Gleeson was appointed Non-Permanent Judge in the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal in March 2009. This year, he was also appointed the President of the Australian Association of Constitutional Law. In March 2009, The Hon. Murray Gleeson was made Patron of The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Australia.
A childhood friend of Murray Gleeson revealed, “He has a deep concern to see that the people coming before his court get justice tempered by compassion – to the extent permitted by our parliaments and our Constitution. And he has the high intellect and good common sense judgment to deliver.”
A former senior member of the Public Prosecutor’s Office Mr Greg Smith SC MP, spoke of many occasions as a senior Prosecutor when he appeared before Chief Justice Gleeson, acknowledging his admiration for his fair dealings and knowledge of the Law.
Ramon Williams (photographer) reported Steve Estherby of Family Voice Australia as commenting: “Yet again Murray Gleeson summed up the important matters before our society. His short and powerful speech reiterated the importance of the traditional family. A father and mother demonstrate the virtue of self-sacrifice in contrast to a society which demands individual rights even to the detriment of others. More importantly he reminded us that the basis of the law in this land rests on and is immersed in the beliefs, ethics and morality of our historical Judeo-Christian heritage.”
Rev The Hon. Dr Gordon Moyes, A.C., M.L.C.