Media Release

Barry Jones on terrorism and censorship

Is the West's reaction to the Twin Towers and other attacks just what the terrorists were hoping for? One of Australia's most respected political figures and intellectuals, Dr Barry Jones AO, will discuss this question in a public lecture at the University of Adelaide on Tuesday 4 September.

'Censorship and secrecy: threats to an open society in an insecure age' is the title of this year's John Bray Oration, the annual lecture hosted by the University of Adelaide's John Bray Law Chapter [1].

Dr Jones became a household name as a 'Pick a Box' quiz champion before entering politics in the 1970s. He was Minister for Science from 1983 to 1990 and President of the Australian Labor Party between 1992 and 2000 and again in 2005-2006.

He has been Vice President of the World Heritage Committee, Deputy Chair of the fourth Constitutional Convention and a member of the Executive Board of UNESCO. He is a Fellow of the four Australian Academies, became a Vice-Chancellor's Fellow at the University of Melbourne in 2005 and is now a Professorial Fellow.

He is a prolific author of political and sociological books, the most recent being his autobiography A Thinking Reed.

"The 'war on terrorism' led to a substantial erosion of many elements which characterise a free society," says Dr Jones. "Is this collective reaction within elements of the West precisely the retreat from modernity, the reaction against scientific method and intellectual scepticism, that Osama bin Laden and fellow jihadists are fighting for?"

The John Bray Oration will be held at 5.45pm in Union Hall, North Terrace Campus [2] on Tuesday 4 September. Admission with donation. Bookings are essential to Gaynor Tyerman on 8303 6356 or email gaynor.tyerman@adelaide.edu.au [3].

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Dr Barry Jones
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