Risk and Due Diligence Unit – Swinburne Update
The Introduction to Risk and Due Diligence Unit at Swinburne is going well this year with 17 students with a diverse global representation. An aspect of the course is a tutorial presentation on some aspect of the law in different jurisdictions. Some very interesting presentations have been made.
The student from Switzerland described the direct democracy process. Direct democracy involves a citizen-sponsored amendment to the Constitution. 100,000 voter signatures are required, which if achieved requires a referendum. To pass into law, a double majority in both the national popular vote and a majority of the (26) cantonal popular vote must be in favour of the amendment. The successful amendment must then be implemented by the federal parliament.
The Introduction to Risk and Due Diligence Unit at Swinburne is going well this year with 17 students with a diverse global representation. An aspect of the course is a tutorial presentation on some aspect of the law in different jurisdictions. Some very interesting presentations have been made.
The student from Switzerland described the direct democracy process. Direct democracy involves a citizen-sponsored amendment to the Constitution. 100,000 voter signatures are required, which if achieved requires a referendum. To pass into law, a double majority in both the national popular vote and a majority of the (26) cantonal popular vote must be in favour of the amendment. The successful amendment must then be implemented by the federal parliament.
A recent amendment was to ban golden handshakes for executives, especially for executives departing poorly performing companies. Apparently most politicians and business leaders advised against this amendment as acting against the national interest, but it was nevertheless adopted with the highest voter turnout in recent memory.
Being about half way through the semester now, it seems like everyone, including the Lecturer is learning something new each week!
The course at Swinburne is presented each week at the Hawthorn campus (VIC). We also welcome guests, so if you have an interesting case study or project example that you would like to share with the students, please get in touch.
ALF Literacy Camp – Ballarat
R2A Board Advisor, John Francis recently attended the Aboriginal Literacy and Heritage camp at Ballarat facilitated by the Aboriginal Literacy Foundation (ALF). R2A have a partnership with the ALF and here is John’s account of the dayOn Saturday 2nd March I attended the Aboriginal Literacy and Heritage camp. Students are partnered with an adult for the morning session, which involves helping the students with their literacy skills.I was partnered with a young aboriginal girl approx. 8 years and in grade 2. We were given several tasks to complete and to read. She tackled these with enthusiasm, and at the end of the session was able to recognise words that had been difficult at the start.After lunch, the student’s do some craftwork and then an elder of a local tribe comes to talk to the students about their culture and traditions. This is followed by an activity like horse riding or roller skating etc.I felt chuffed with the amount of progress that had been achieved by the young girl in this brief session. I have undertaken to take part in the next camp in late April or early May to hopefully provide continuity in the partnership.