UTS is to present an honorary award to retired Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia, Sir Gerard Brennan, who gave the principal judgment in the Mabo case.

Sir Gerard Brennan, AC, KBE, will be presented with the honorary award of Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) at a ceremony in the University Hall on Tuesday 4 August.

This award is made to Sir Gerard in recognition not only of his outstanding contribution to the Australian judicial system, but also for the significant developments in Australia's political and social welfare areas that can be directly attributed to his work.

After a distinguished career at the bar and on the bench, Sir Gerard was appointed to the High Court of Australia in February 1981. He was sworn in as the 10th Chief Justice of Australia in April 1995.

Sir Gerard is considered a man of compassion who recognises the need not only to maintain the rule of law, but also the respect of the community at the same time.

With fellow Justices, Sir Gerard Brennan formed part of a movement that has looked to the Constitution for the protection of individual rights and freedoms.

It was in the Mabo decision, a judgment which changed relations between the indigenous and non-indigenous people of Australia, that Sir Gerard was to gain widest public acknowledgment.

In this case the High Court exploded the common law myth that Australia was 'terra nullius' prior to British colonisation. This opened the way for recognition of customary native title on unalienated Crown land.