Mabo, Native Title & The Voice

Dr Bryan Keon-Cohen AM QC is a retired barrister, writer and activist. He was born and educated (Scotch College) in Melbourne and graduated LLM, LLB, BA from Melbourne University in 1971. He thereafter lectured at Monash University law school, worked with Kirby J at the Australian Law Reform Commission in Sydney, and joined the Victorian Bar in 1981. He was junior counsel for the plaintiffs throughout the Mabo litigation (1982 – 1992); has acted for claimants in many native title and immigration matters in the Federal Court; has appeared in the High Court in significant constitutional, native title and refugee matters; and has written and lectured extensively on Indigenous rights. He took silk in 1996 and retired from active practice in 2016. During the 1980's he was a committee member, including Secretary, of the Victorian Council for Civil Liberties (now Liberty Victoria). During 2012-2014, he was President of COIN ("Commission of Inquiry Now"), a community group advocating for victims of child sexual abuse. On 26 January 2012 he was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for services to the law especially the development of Indigenous rights. In May 2012, Bryan graduated PhD from Monash University following publication of his thesis/book: Mabo in the Courts: Islander Tradition to Native Title: a Memoir.