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Professor Luke McNamara

Professor Luke McNamara

Professor

PhD (University of Wollongong)

LLM (University of Manitoba)

BA, LLB (UNSW)

Law & Justice
School of Law, Society & Criminology

Luke McNamara is a Professor in the Faculty of Law and Justice at the University of New South Wales.  His research focuses on the deployment of criminalisation as a public policy tool. Current projects include studies of sexual offence trials and the history of criminal law-making directed at safety from violence. He is the author of the books Regulating Racism: Racial Vilification Laws in Australia (2002), and Human Rights Controversies: The Impact of Legal Form (2007); and a co-author of Criminal Laws: Materials and Commentary on Criminal Law and Process of New South Wales (7th ed, 2020).

Recent journal articles have appeared in Criminology & Criminal Justice, International Journal for Crime, Justice & Social Democracy, New Criminal Law Review, UNSW Law Journal, International Journal of Law, Crime and Justice, Criminal Law Journal and Current Issues in Criminal Justice. 
Phone
+61-2-90652104
E-mail
luke.mcnamara@unsw.edu.au
  • Books | 2020
    Brown D; Farrier D; McNamara L; Steel A; Grewcock M; Quilter J; Schwartz M; Anthony T; Loughnan A, 2020, Criminal Laws: Materials and Commentary on Criminal Law and Process of New South Wales, Federation Press, Sydney, https://www.federationpress.com.au/bookstore/book.asp?isbn=9781760021795
    Books | 2015
    Brown D; Farrier D; McNamara L; Grewcock M; Quilter J; Steel A; Schwartz M, 2015, Criminal Laws: Materials and Commentary on Criminal Law and Process of NSW, 6th Edition, Federation Press, Sydney
    Books | 2007
    McNamara L, 2007, Human rights controversies: The impact of legal form, http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9780203945148
    Books | 2006
    Brown D; Farrier D; Egger S; McNamara L; Steel A, 2006, 1 86287 596 0 Criminal Laws: Materials and Commentary on Criminal Law and Process in New South Wales 4th edn, The Federation Press, Sydney
  • Book Chapters | 2023
    Quilter J; McNamara L, 2023, 'Complainant Intoxication Evidence and Proof of Non-Consent in Australian Rape Trials: Insights from Appellate Court Decisions 1', in New Directions in Sexual Violence Scholarship: Law, Power and Change, pp. 173 - 188, http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781003379331-13
    Book Chapters | 2020
    McNamara L; Quilter J, 2020, 'New South Wales: Insights into Influencing the Shape of Criminal Law Making', in Debeljak J; Grenfell L (ed.), Law making and human rights: executive and parliamentary scrutiny across Australian jurisdictions, Thomson Reuters, Sydney, https://legal.thomsonreuters.com.au/law-making-and-human-rights/productdetail/127563#table-contents
    Book Chapters | 2015
    Gelber K ; McNamara L, 2015, 'The impact of section 18C and other civil anti-vilification laws in Australia', in Australian Human Rights Commission (ed.), Perspectives on the Racial Discrimination Act: papers from the 40 Years of the Racial Discrimination Act Conference, Australian Human Rights Commission
    Book Chapters | 2015
    McNamara L, 2015, 'Criminalisation Research in Australia: Building a foundation for normative theorising and principled law reform', in Crofts T; Loughnan A (ed.), Criminalisation and Criminal Responsibility in Australia, Oxford University Press, pp. 33 - 51
    Book Chapters | 2013
    McNamara L, 2013, ''Legal Form' and the Purchase of Human Rights Discourse in Domestic Policy-making: The Achievement of Same-Sex Marriage in Canada', in Verschraegen G; Madsen M (ed.), Making Human Rights Intelligible: Towards a Sociology of Human Rights, Hart Publishing, pp. 247 - 265
  • Journal articles | 2024
    Anthony T; Walsh T; McNamara L; Quilter J, 2024, 'Hyper-policing the Homeless: Lived Experience and the Perils of Benevolent and Malevolent Policing', Critical Criminology, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10612-024-09775-3
    Journal articles | 2023
    Quilter J; McNamara L; Porter M; Croskery-Hewitt S, 2023, 'INTOXICATION EVIDENCE IN RAPE TRIALS IN THE COUNTY COURT OF VICTORIA: A QUALITATIVE STUDY', University of New South Wales Law Journal, 46, pp. 579 - 614, http://dx.doi.org/10.53637/XZQJ2471
    Journal articles | 2023
    Quilter J; McNamara L; Porter M, 2023, 'Differences in accounts and the ‘lying’ complainant: A qualitative study of rape trials from Victoria, Australia', International Journal of Law, Crime and Justice, 73, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijlcj.2023.100593
    Journal articles | 2023
    Quilter J; McNamara L; Porter M, 2023, 'The most persistent rape myth? A qualitative study of ‘delay’ in complaint in Victorian rape trials', Current Issues in Criminal Justice, 35, pp. 4 - 26, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10345329.2022.2090089
    Journal articles | 2022
    Quilter J; McNamara L; Porter M, 2022, 'New Jury Directions for Sexual Offence Trials in New South Wales: The Importance of Timing', CRIMINAL LAW JOURNAL, 46, pp. 138 - 150, https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000860746300003&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1
    Journal articles | 2022
    Quilter J; McNamara L; Porter M, 2022, 'THE NATURE AND PURPOSE OF COMPLAINANT INTOXICATION EVIDENCE IN RAPE TRIALS: A STUDY OF AUSTRALIAN APPELLATE COURT DECISIONS', Adelaide Law Review, 43, pp. 606 - 640
    Journal articles | 2021
    McNamara L; Quilter J; Hogg R; Loughnan A; Douglas H; Brown D; Farmer L, 2021, 'Understanding processes of criminalisation: Insights from an Australian study of criminal law-making', Criminology and Criminal Justice, 21, pp. 387 - 407, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1748895819868519
    Journal articles | 2021
    Perkins D; Brophy H; McGregor IS; O'Brien P; Quilter J; McNamara L; Sarris J; Stevenson M; Gleeson P; Sinclair J; Dietze P, 2021, 'Medicinal cannabis and driving: the intersection of health and road safety policy', International Journal of Drug Policy, 97, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2021.103307
    Journal articles | 2020
    McNamara L; Quilter J; Walsh T; Anthony T, 2020, 'Homelessness and contact with the criminal justice system: Insights from specialist lawyers and allied professionals in Australia', International Journal for Crime, Justice and Social Democracy, 9, pp. 111 - 129, http://dx.doi.org/10.5204/IJCJSD.1742
    Journal articles | 2020
    Quilter J; McNamara L; Walsh T; Anthony T, 2020, 'Homelessness and Contact with the Criminal Justice System: Insights from Magistrates in Australia', Journal of Judicial Administration, 30, pp. 64 - 80, https://www-westlaw-com-au.wwwproxy1.library.unsw.edu.au/maf/wlau/app/document?&src=search&docguid=Ife9f9f1549ee11eba9c5a55edf1410c8&epos=1&snippets=true&fcwh=true&startChunk=1&endChunk=1&nstid=std-anz-highlight&nsds=AUNZ_JOURNALS&isTocNav=true&tocDs=AUNZ_AU_JOURNALS_TOC&context=7&extLink=false&searchFromLinkHome=true
    Journal articles | 2019
    McNamara L; Quilter J, 2019, 'Criminalising protest through the expansion of police ‘move-on’ powers: A case study from Australia', International Journal of Law, Crime and Justice, 58, pp. 22 - 34, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijlcj.2019.07.001
    Journal articles | 2019
    Monds L; Quilter J; van Golde C; McNamara L, 2019, 'Police as Experts in the Detection of Alcohol and Other Drug Intoxication: A Review of the Scientific Evidence within the Australian Legal Context', University of Queensland Law Journal, 38, pp. 367 - 388, https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/qland38&div=20&id=&page=
    Journal articles | 2019
    Trollip H; McNamara L; Gibbon H, 2019, 'The factors associated with the policing of offensive language: a qualitative study of three Sydney Local Area Commands', Current Issues in Criminal Justice, 31, pp. 493 - 512, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10345329.2019.1639591
    Journal articles | 2019
    Walsh T; McNamara L; Quilter J; Anthony T, 2019, 'National Study on the Criminalisation of Poverty and Homelessness', Parity, 32, pp. 25 - 27, https://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=686258036256092;res=IELHSS
    Journal articles | 2018
    McNamara L; Quilter J; Hogg R; Douglas H; Loughnan A; Brown D, 2018, 'Theorising Criminalisation: The Value of a Modalities Approach', International Journal for Crime, Justice and Social Democracy, 7, pp. 91 - 121, http://dx.doi.org/10.5204/ijcjsd.v7i3.511
    Journal articles | 2018
    McNamara L; Quilter J, 2018, 'High court constitutional challenges to criminal law and procedure legislation in Australia', University of New South Wales Law Journal, 41, pp. 1047 - 1082
    Journal articles | 2018
    Quilter J; McNamara L; Seear K; Room R, 2018, 'The significance of 'intoxication' in Australian criminal law', Trends and Issues in Crime and Criminal Justice, pp. 1 - 16, https://aic.gov.au/publications/tandi/tandi546
    Journal articles | 2018
    Quilter J; McNamara L, 2018, 'Guest editors’ introduction special edition: Hidden criminalisation—punitiveness at the edges', International Journal for Crime, Justice and Social Democracy, 7, pp. 1 - 3, http://dx.doi.org/10.5204/ijcjsd.v7i3.559
    Journal articles | 2018
    Quilter J; McNamara L, 2018, 'The meaning of ‘‘intoxication’’ in Australian criminal cases: Origins and operation', New Criminal Law Review, 21, pp. 170 - 207, http://dx.doi.org/10.1525/nclr.2018.21.1.170
    Journal articles | 2018
    Richards J; McNamara L, 2018, 'Just Attribution of Criminal Liability: Consideration of Extended Joint Criminal Enterprise Post-Miller', Criminal Law Journal, 42, pp. 372-386 - 372-386, https://www.westlaw.com.au/maf/wlau/app/document?&src=search&docguid=I35f5da67225511e989f6e235e4e6e731&epos=1&snippets=true&fcwh=true&startChunk=1&endChunk=1&nstid=std-anz-highlight&nsds=AUNZ_JOURNALS&isTocNav=true&tocDs=AUNZ_AU_JOURNALS_TOC&context=20&extLink=false&searchFromLinkHome=true
    Journal articles | 2017
    McNamara L; Quilter J; Seear K; Room R, 2017, 'Evidence of Intoxication in Australian Criminal Courts: A Complex Variable with Multiple Effects', Monash University Law Review, 43, pp. 148 - 194
    Journal articles | 2017
    Quilter J; McNamara L, 2017, 'Zero tolerance drug driving laws in Australia: A gap between rationale and form?', International Journal for Crime, Justice and Social Democracy, 6, pp. 47 - 71, http://dx.doi.org/10.5204/ijcjsd.v6i3.416
    Journal articles | 2016
    Gelber K; McNamara L; Gelber K, 2016, 'Evidencing the harms of hate speech', Social Identities, 22, pp. 324 - 341, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13504630.2015.1128810
    Journal articles | 2016
    Gelber K; McNamara L, 2016, 'Anti-vilification Laws and Public Racism in Australia: mapping the gaps between the harms occasioned and the remedies provided', University of New South Wales Law Journal, 39, pp. 488 - 511
    Journal articles | 2016
    McNamara L; Quilter J, 2016, 'The “Bikie Effect” and other Forms of Demonisation: the Origins and Effects of Hyper-criminalisation', Law in Context, 34, pp. 5 - 35
    Journal articles | 2016
    Quilter J; McNamara L; Seear K; Room R, 2016, 'Criminal Law and the Effects of Alcohol and Other Drugs: a National Study of the Significance of 'Intoxication' in Australian Legislation', University of New South Wales Law Journal, 39, pp. 913 - 949, http://www.unswlawjournal.unsw.edu.au/sites/default/files/393-1.pdf
    Journal articles | 2016
    Quilter J; McNamara L; Seear K; Room R, 2016, 'The Definition and Significance of 'Intoxication' in Australian Criminal Law: A Case Study of Queensland's 'Safe Night Out' Legislation', QUT Law Review, 16, pp. 42 - 58, http://dx.doi.org/10.5204/qutlr.v16i2.654
    Journal articles | 2016
    Quilter J; McNamara L, 2016, 'Street Music and the Law in Australia Busker Perspectives on the Impact of Local Council Rules and Regulations', Journal of Musicological Research, 35, pp. 113 - 127, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01411896.2016.1161477
    Journal articles | 2015
    Gelber K; Mcnamara L, 2015, 'The Effects of Civil Hate Speech Laws: Lessons from Australia', Law and Society Review, 49, pp. 631 - 664, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/lasr.12152
    Journal articles | 2015
    McNamara L; Quilter J , 2015, 'Public Intoxication in NSW: The Contours of Criminalisation', The Sydney Law Review, 37, pp. 1 - 35
    Journal articles | 2015
    McNamara L; Quilter J, 2015, 'Institutional Influences on the Parameters of Criminalisation: Parliamentary Scrutiny of Criminal Law Bills in New South Wales', Current Issues in Criminal Justice, 27, pp. 21 - 40
    Journal articles | 2015
    Quilter J; McNamara L, 2015, ''Long may the buskers carry on busking': Street music and the law in Melbourne and Sydney', Melbourne University Law Review, 39, pp. 539 - 591
    Journal articles | 2014
    Gelber K ; McNamara L, 2014, 'Private Litigation to address a public wrong: a study of Australia's regulatory response to 'hate speech'', Civil Justice Quarterly, 33, pp. 307 - 334
    Journal articles | 2014
    Gelber K; McNamara L, 2014, 'Changes in the expression of prejudice in public discourse in Australia: assessing the impact of hate speech laws on letters to the editor 1992-2010', Australian Journal of Human Rights, 20, pp. 99 - 128, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1323-238X.2014.11882142
    Journal articles | 2014
    McNamara L; Quilter J , 2014, 'Turning the Spotlight on 'Offensiveness' as a Basis for Criminal Liability', Alternative Law Journal, 39, pp. 36 - 39
    Journal articles | 2014
    McNamara L, 2014, 'A Judicial contribution to over-criminalisation?: Extended joint criminal enterprise liability for murder', Criminal Law Journal, 38, pp. 104 - 117, http://websearch.aic.gov.au/firstaicPublic/fullRecord.jsp?recnoListAttr=recnoList&recno=296374
    Journal articles | 2013
    Durbach A; McNamara L; Rix M; Rice S, 2013, 'Public Interest Litigation: Making the Case in Australia', Alternative Law Journal, 38, pp. 219 - 223, http://heinonline.org/HOL/Index?index=journals/alterlj&collection=journals
    Journal articles | 2013
    Gelber K; McNamara L, 2013, 'Freedom of speech and racial vilification in Australia: 'The Bolt case' in public discourse', Australian Journal of Political Science, 48, pp. 470 - 484, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10361146.2013.842540
    Journal articles | 2013
    McNamara L; Quilter J, 2013, 'Time to define ‘the cornerstone of public order legislation’: the elements of offensive conduct and language under the summary offences act 1988 (NSW)', University of New South Wales Law Journal, 36, pp. 534 - 562, http://www.unswlawjournal.unsw.edu.au/
    Journal articles | 2011
    Arzey S; Mcnamara L, 2011, 'Invoking international human rights law in a "rights-free zone": Indigenous justice campaigns in Australia', Human Rights Quarterly, 33, pp. 733 - 766, http://dx.doi.org/10.1353/hrq.2011.0036
    Journal articles | 1994
    McNamara L, 1994, 'Criminalising Racial Hatred: Learning from the Canadian Experience', Australian Journal of Human Rights, 1, pp. 198 - 210, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1323238X.1994.11910911
  • Reports | 2024
    McNamara L; others W, 2024, Submission to Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee Commission of Inquiry into Antisemitism at Australian Universities Bill 2024, https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Legal_and_Constitutional_Affairs/AntisemitismBill/Submissions
    Reports | 2024
    McNamara L, 2024, Law and Order in Australia Has a Blind Spot: Human Rights, The Diplomat
    Reports | 2022
    Buxton-Namisnyk E; Giannacopoulos M; Gibbon H; Kaladelfos A; Matthews I; Paetzholdt U; McNamara L, 2022, Submission to NSW Government on the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Coercive Control) Bill 2022, Centre for Crime, Law and Society
    Submissions to Government | 2022
    McNamara L; Matthews I; Sentas V; Williams L, 2022, Submission to the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission NSW: Review of the operation of amendments to the consorting law under Part 3A Division 7 of the Crimes Act 1900, Centre for Crime, Law and Justice, UNSW,
    Submissions to Government | 2019
    Appleby G; McNamara L; Sentas V, 2019, Submission to the Department of Justice, Strategic Legislation and Policy on the Workplaces (Protection from Protesters) Amendment Bill 2019 (Tas), , https://www.justice.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/551032/University-of-New-South-Wales-submission-Workplace-protesters.PDF
    Reports | 2019
    Stubbs J; Findlay L; McNamara L; Steel A, 2019, Submission to the NSW Sentencing Council’s review of sentencing for the offences of murder and manslaughter, including penalties imposed for domestic and family violence homicides and the standard non-parole periods for murder, http://www.cclj.unsw.edu.au/sites/cclj.unsw.edu.au/files/Submission%20to%20Sentencing%20Council%20from%20UNSW%20CCLJ%20researchers%20pdf.pdf

 

 

  • 2022-2024 Australian Institute of Criminology Indigenous Justice Research Program Grant: “Sentencing to create just outcomes: impact of trauma and strength of culture: Evaluating the impact of the Bugmy Bar Book Resources – the first 3 years” (with Professor Jill Hunter (UNSW). Amount awarded: $77,505
  • 2021-2024 Australian Research Council Discovery Project (DP210101072) Grant: “Violence, Risk and Safety: The Changing Face of Australian Criminal Laws” (with Professor Julia Quilter (UOW), Professor Arlie Loughnan (U Syd), Professor Russell Hogg (QUT), Emeritus Professor David Brown (UNSW) and Professor Lindsay Farmer (Glasgow). Amount awarded: $327,330
  • 2020-2023 Australian Research Council Discovery Project (DP 200100101) Grant: “Intoxication Evidence in Rape Trials: A Double-Edged Sword?” (with Professor Julia Quilter (UOW). Amount awarded: $239,322.
  • 2017-2020 Australian Research Council Linkage Project (LP160101543) Grant: “Criminalisation of poverty and homelessness in Australia: A national study” (with Professor Tamara Walsh (UQ), Professor Julia Quilter (UOW) and Professor Thalia Anthony (UTS). Amount awarded: $156,000
  • 2015 Australian Institute of Criminology - Criminology Research Grant: “Knowledges of ‘Intoxication’ and Australian Criminal Law: Implications for addressing Alcohol and Other Drug-Related Harms and Risks” (with Associate Professor Julia Quilter (UOW), Dr Kate Seear (Monash U) and Professor Robin Room (Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, La Trobe University). Amount awarded: $69,000.
  • 2010-2012 Australian Research Council Discovery Project (DP1096721) Grant: “The Impact of Hate Speech Laws on Public Discourse in Australia” (with Professor Kath Gelber, UQ). Amount awarded: $192,000.

2014 Australian Political Studies Association Mayer Journal Article Prize for K Gelber and L McNamara, ‘Freedom of Speech and Racial Vilification in Australia: “The Bolt Case” in Public Discourse’ (2013) 48(4) Australian Journal of Political Science 470-484.

Professor McNamara is currently involved in collaborative projects on the history of the criminalisation of violence in Australia, and the nature and operation intoxication evidence in sexual assault trials - both funded by ARC Discovery Project grants.