Senator Kim Carr with Professor George Williams

Professor George Williams has been awarded an inaugural Australian Laureate Fellowship for research into anti-terror laws. The award, which is worth around $2.7 million over five years, includes funding for a research team.

Professor George Williams is one of Australia’s leading constitutional law experts. He has made a major impact, both in Australia and internationally, on the debate around the drafting of anti-terror laws. He will use his fellowship to examine how the law can protect the community from terrorism while balancing democratic values and human rights.

George Williams is one of just 15 fellows announced by the Federal Government, selected from a highly competitive field of 148 researchers. The new scheme, which replaces the Federation Fellowships, is fully funded by the ARC.

Federal Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr, who announced the inaugural fellowships at a ceremony at Parliament House on 22 June, said the scheme took the best of the Federation Fellowships with an added focus on teamwork and career progression.

"Australian Laureate Fellows will lead and mentor the next generation of research leaders, helping to build Australia’s international competitive research capacity," Senator Carr said.