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Law students at The University of Western Australia have taken the honours in the nation's most prestigious essay contest for tertiary students - the Governor-General's Undergraduate Essay Competition.

Peter Congdon, of Bicton, won first prize for his essay discussing the role of the Crown in today's working Australian Constitution.  And Virginia Gogan, of Coogee, won second prize for her essay on whether Chinese investment in Australia is a threat or an opportunity for our nation.

After submitting their essays to the judges, the short-listed students were interviewed by the Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia, UWA Law graduate, Robert French.

As well as the Chief Justice, this year's six-member judging panel included Executive Director of the Constitution Education Fund Australia (CEFA), Mrs Kerry Jones; and professors from the Law Schools of Bond and Sydney Universities and the University of NSW.

Chief Justice French said the competition, in its seventh year, advanced CEFA's aim of engaging students around Australia in thinking about the Constitution, Australia's place in the world and its relationship with others in the global community.

Competitors chose one of nine essay topics including freedom of speech, Australian citizenship, and Australia in Afghanistan.

Winners will receive their prizes at the Professor George Winterton Memorial Lecture in at the University of Sydney in February next year.

Media references

Deborah Rhys-Jones (UWA Senior Law Faculty Administration Officer)  (+61 8)  6488 2961
Janine MacDonald (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 5563  /  (+61 4) 32 637 716