Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Luke Beck is a Professor of Constitutional Law. He is also Associate Dean (Education) of the Faculty of Law.
Luke is a leading scholar in the field of separation of religion and government and religious freedom under the Australian Constitution. He has also published on various other aspects of constitutional and public law.
His books include Australian Constitutional Law: Concepts and Cases (Cambridge University Press, 2020) and Religious Freedom and the Australian Constitution: Origins and Future (Routledge, 2018). Luke is one of the most published scholars in leading Australian law journals, being ranked as the most published author in Go8 law journals and the third most published author in ERA A* and A law journals in the period 2010 to 2017, according to a 2020 study published in the UWA Law Review.
Luke's research has had important impacts outside the academy, including in case law and law reform. His research has been cited in judgments in the High Court of Australia and New South Wales Court of Appeal, and relied upon in argument in other cases before the courts. His research has also been cited in reports of parliamentary inquiries and law reform commissions in Australia and overseas.
Luke also appears before parliamentary inquiries to provide expert constitutional advice and his advice has led to changes to legislation. He is also a regular media commentator.
Before entering academia, Luke worked in the public service, including in the office of a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, at the Office of the Protective Commissioner and at the NSW Attorney-General's Department.
Research interests
Constitutional law
Law and religion
Constitutional history
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
External positions
National Council Member, Australian Association of Constitutional Law
Victorian Chapter Convenor, Australian Association of Constitutional Law
Member, International Society of Public Law
Member, Law and Religion Scholars Network
Research area keywords
- Constitutional Law
- Law and Religion
- Constitutional History
Network
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Digitising the Drafting of the Australian Constitution
Wesson, M., Murray, S., Dharmananda, J., Saunders, B., Stellios, J., Genovese, A., Twomey, A., Dixon, R., Beck, L., Castan, M., Williams, J., Cole, N., Aroney, N., Lino, D. & Tulich, T.
1/09/23 → 31/12/24
Project: Research
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The Australian Royal Commissions and Public Inquiries Library
Chung, P., Mowbray, A., Appleby, G., Stuhmcke, A., Anthony, T., Cunningham, R., Lunney, M., Groves, M., Taylor, G., Beck, L., Edgar, A., Josev, T., Dalla-Pozza, D., Comino, V. & Wesson, M.
27/07/21 → 27/07/22
Project: Research
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Official Prayers in Australia
Rationalist Society of Australia Inc
27/11/18 → 26/11/19
Project: Research
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Local government prayers in Australia
Beck, L., 2023, In: Journal for the Academic Study of Religion. 36, 1, p. 28-57 30 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
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Attorney-General (Victoria) ex rel Black v Commonwealth: the High Court's attempt to make the establishment clause of the Australian constitution mean very little
Beck, L., 2022, Law and Religion in the Commonwealth: The Evolution of the Case Law. Barker, R., Babie, P. T. & Foster, N. (eds.). 1st ed. Oxford UK: Bloomsbury Professional, p. 149-166 18 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (Book) › Research › peer-review
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Constitutional Law
Beck, L. & Castan, M., 2022, Mastering Law Studies and Law Exam Techniques. Krever, R. (ed.). 11th ed. Lexis Nexis, p. 225-239 15 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (Book) › Other › peer-review
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The continued existence of the crime of blasphemy in Australia
Beck, L., 2022, In: Australian Journal of Law and Religion. 1, 1, p. 99-102 4 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment / Debate › Other
Open Access -
Imposing fees for police services in Australia
Dellora, C. & Beck, L., 2021, In: Griffith Law Review. 30, 2, p. 313-336 24 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
1 Citation (Scopus)
Activities
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Submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters, Inquiry into the Commonwealth Electoral Amendment (Real Time Disclosure of Political Donations) Bill 2019
Luke Beck (Fellow)
21 Oct 2019Activity: External Academic Engagement › Submissions to industry or govt committees, commissions and inquiries
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Submission to the Attorney-General’s Department, Religious Freedom Bills First Exposure Drafts Consultation
Luke Beck (Fellow)
27 Sep 2019Activity: External Academic Engagement › Submissions to industry or govt committees, commissions and inquiries
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Submission to the Victorian Legislative Council Procedure Committee, Inquiry into the practice of opening sittings of the Legislative Council with the Lord’s Prayer
Luke Beck (Fellow)
29 Mar 2019Activity: External Academic Engagement › Submissions to industry or govt committees, commissions and inquiries
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Submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters, Inquiry into and report on all aspects of the conduct of the 2019 Federal Election and matters related thereto
Luke Beck (Fellow)
19 Sep 2019Activity: External Academic Engagement › Submissions to industry or govt committees, commissions and inquiries
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Further Submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence and Security Review of the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Bill 2017
Luke Beck (Fellow)
13 Jun 2018Activity: External Academic Engagement › Submissions to industry or govt committees, commissions and inquiries
Press/Media
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Interview with ABC Radio National God Forbid, ‘Is religious freedom under threat?’
27/12/19
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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Interview with The Saturday Paper, “Examining the second draft of religion bill”
21/12/19
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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Interview with ABC Radio Melbourne, Statewide Drive, about religious discrimination laws
20/12/19
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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Interview with The Daily Telegraph, “Royals could be ditched without referendum: Labor MP”
9/12/19
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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Interview with AAP, ‘States agree on mandatory reporting laws’
29/11/19
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment