Julian Burnside AO QC has devoted his life to fairness and justice, as a barrister, Queens Counsel and human rights advocate. He believes that from the earliest age, children yearn for fairness and they understand what it is. As we grow older, we learn that our childhood instinct for fairness is what grown-ups call ‘Justice’ but we work out ways to deny it, or redefine it, until we live lives in which it disappears. Yet the yearning for fairness – for justice – remains.

Julian will deliver a sermon-style keynote On Fairness, exploring the much-lauded virtue of a ‘fair go’ in Australian culture with his signature style of persuasive polemics. He will be joined by musician Archie Roach who will perform four songs to convey his interpretation of what fairness means – and why it still matters.

Since 2008 The School of Life has presented strictly secular Sunday Sermons exploring the values we should live by today. We ask maverick cultural figures, artists and thought leaders to give us their take on the virtues to cling to or the vices to be wary of in our complex world.