President’s Report 2025 – Michelle Bennett
Dear Members and Supporters of Liberty Victoria,
It will be interesting to see, in years to come, how time and distance shape our views on what the events of the year 2025 come to represent. Living through it has at times felt like falling through the looking glass, where so many of the principles that we have taken for granted has changed so rapidly. It has been devastating, to see what many of us consider the hallmarks of a free and democratic society constant attack in the US, and to be alarmed at the possible signs that the trend could be spreading across the world, including to Australia. It is also disturbing to realise how quickly we have become accustomed to the apparent absence of truth and accountability in public discourse.
The events across our increasingly small world have reverberated across all of Australia, some communities have been deeply and personally impacted by conflict happening overseas, but also by the conflict it has created within our society. The continuing calls for the suppression of protest across the country, and particularly here in Victoria, suggest a society that can barely tolerate the voicing of different opinions. It often seems that we have lost the ability to disagree with respect and compassion.
One of the greatest tensions this year has been the incredibly difficult balance of competing rights of freedom of expression and protection of people from hate speech and vilification. Protecting the right to protest innately requires that you will protect the speech of those with you whom you passionately disagree. Protecting people from vilification and hate speech requires a drawing of a line that is deeply subjective, and there can be a deep chasm between what people believe they are saying and what people believe they hear. We have made submissions into anti-vilification laws and the Senate inquiry into antisemitism on university campuses as well as responding to the recommendations of the special envoy into antisemitism and calling for protection of protest.
Despite these issues, and while Australia is clearly not immune to the challenges gripping what we might see as comparable Western democracies, we have not succumbed to our worst fears. We held a Federal election that was orderly, peaceful and did not ultimately fall victim to the extremes of foreign influence or targeted misinformation.
As our Annual Report details, our committees have once again contributed to legislative review and debate across a wide range of critical issues, continuing many of the themes of recent years around the erosion of human rights. The treatment of asylum seekers, and the politics of demonising people without Australian citizenship continues to represent one of our lowest points.
Our committee has been vocal in continuing our calls to reform bail laws as we see prison populations surge and escalation of calls to be tough on crime (but light on meaningful solutions). We have also called for restraint on the increasing incursions on privacy – in both the growth of public camera surveillance and the proposals to place age restrictions on access to social media – and by extension vastly increase collection of personal information.
A change in our calendar means that this year’s AGM has been scheduled ahead of the 2025 Liberty Victoria Voltaire Awards dinner, to be held at the Sofitel Melbourne on 14 November. We are eagerly anticipating the evening, which will recognise the extraordinary contribution of our award winners to freedom and humanity.
Our Voltaire Award will be awarded to Dr Mohammed Musfafa – better known as Dr Mo. It is difficult to hear Dr Mo speak about his time in the hospitals of Gaza, the overwhelming conditions he encountered, and the agonising decisions he was forced to make as children suffered and died from horrific injuries, with little to no access to even the most basic medications, equipment, or facilities. It should make us all feel deep discomfort about the failure of our governments and international institutions to stop this suffering.
But it is also incredibly powerful and energising to have the opportunity to hear from someone who has stepped forward – in circumstances that come with immense risk – instead of looking away.
It is particularly exciting this year to have last year’s Voltaire Award winner, Antoinette Lattouf, back with us to lead a conversation with Dr Mo. We are very grateful that Antionette has so generously agreed to give us the benefit of both her professional skills and personal experience. I am confident that everyone in attendance will end the evening feeling exceptionally inspired and privileged to have heard Dr Mo share his experience working in Gaza and lobbying to bring a dedicated hospital to the children suffering in Gaza.
We will also hear from Sarah Schwartz, who will speak on her personal experience working alongside the late Uncle Percy Lovett in the fight for reform following the tragic death in custody of Veronica Nelson. In the aftermath of Veronica’s passing, Uncle Percy Lovett (together with Aunty Donna Nelson) fought tirelessly for Poccum’s Law until his passing last year. Uncle Percy sat in Court every day of the inquest into Veronica’s passing and was relentless in his fight for justice for Veronica. Tragically, the Victorian Government has wound back reforms made after Veronica’s and Uncle Percy’s death.
Finally, we will be recognising this year’s Sophie Trevitt Award Winner Plestia Alaqad for her dedication to providing her very personal coverage of the conflict in Gaza. At just 22 years of age, the newly graduated journalist found herself reporting on her home as it was turned into a war zone, and ultimately seeking refuge with her family in Melbourne before returning to Beirut to continue her work and studies.
While 2025 was challenging on a range of fronts, it also saw the emergence of some new initiatives for Liberty Victoria. I am very pleased to announce that we will be establishing a new advisory panel, with the incredibly dedicated Michael Stanton KC as the founding chair alongside Jamie Gardiner who served as a Vice President of Liberty Victoria with great distinction over many years. The advisory panel will be a valuable support for Liberty Victoria, ensuring we can bring new talent and energy to the executive committee while ensuring we can continue to benefit from the experience and wisdom of the panel members.
Another development in 2025 was the launch of the Corporate Supporters Network. This new program creates an alliance with organisations that provide meaningful support to Liberty Victoria to help us continue our work. We are grateful not only for the significant financial support these organisations offer, but also for the recognition of the importance and value of the hard work of our committee members.
We continue to be under significant financial pressure, as the cost of living and our independent status means raising funds to cover the very modest costs of our organization remains incredibly challenging. We recognise that many of our members and supporters are themselves facing financial pressures and are grateful for ongoing support through membership, donations or support of our events such as the Voltaire Awards dinner.
There have been a number of changes to our Committee again in 2025, and several members of the Executive and Committees will step down at the end of this year. Sam Norton and Zubin Menon have both made enormous contributions during their time on the executive. We thank Sam in particular for his contribution to the creation of our Corporate Supporters network – of which his firm Stary, Norton, Halphen is a founding member. Jamie Gardiner will step down from the executive but continue his longstanding and greatly valued contribution through the advisory panel. Jessica Coverdale, Jonathon Cooper, and Isabelle Skaburskis: thank you for all you have contributed in your time working with Liberty Victoria.
I would once again like to thank all of the Committee members who continue to show up, live their convictions and undertake the work of Liberty Victoria in the year that has passed, and that have committed to do so again in 2026.
At the time of writing this, the first stage of a peace deal has been agreed for Gaza and there is great hope for a continuation of the ceasefire, the imminent return of the Israeli hostages who have been held captive for more than 2 long, cruel years and an end to the devastating bombings, starvation and threatened genocide against the people of Gaza.
Wherever these current negotiations lead, it has been startling to remember what it is like to be optimistic about the direction in which events are heading. It has felt like optimism has been in very short supply in the last few years and it has been important to be reminded that there is hope. It is my sincere hope that at the time of this being published, the best possible outcome will have emerged and there will be not just an end to the conflict but a plan for desperately needed support to rebuild the lives of the many, many people who have suffered through it.
Thank you to all our members and supporters who help us to continue our work. On a personal note, I would like to thank the executive and committees for their hard work, support, willingness to step up and respond on short notice to apply their intellect and provide insights on emerging issues. Our executive officer Helia Mehrabani has been relentlessly helpful, positive and calmly accommodating of our requests for support at all hours. My special thanks to Michael Stanton and Thomas Kane who have for so many years shown a fierce commitment and willingness to roll up their sleeves to drive Liberty Victoria forward.
Michelle Bennett
President, Liberty Victoria