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Associate Professor Richard Matthews AM - Bond University


Member of the Order of Australia
Member of the Order of Australia


Dr. Richard Matthews is a political philosopher, social justice activist and Associate Professor of Medical Ethics at Bond University. He leads the Health Advocate and Professional Theme at the School of Medicine. His research interests centre on the nature and ethics of violence, medical ethics, and health ethics with Indigenous peoples. He has published on the nature and ethics of torture, most prominently in The Absolute Violation: why torture must be prohibited. (Montreal & Kingston: MQUP; 2008), along with multiple essays on torture, social justice and music education and medical ethics. His current research includes ethics and genocide, conscientious provision, and ecological justice.

Research interests

  • Violence

  • Colonialism

  • Medical ethics

  • Health ethics with Indigenous peoples

I have published a book The Absolute Violation: why torture must be prohibited, as well as a variety of articles on medical ethics, torture, and social justice and music education. 


18 July 2023

Co-signee to "Urgent vaping law reform needed in Australia" that endorsed concerns of the 

Australian National Advisory Council on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ANACAD), that the prescription policy is failing and that the Minister's proposed vaping crackdown will only make things worse.

Letter>>







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