Ron Williams brought proceedings in the High Court (Williams v Commonwealth of Australia) in challenging the validity of the funding agreement and the making of payments under the agreement for the National School Chaplaincy Program. In 2012, the High Court ruled that the funding agreement and the making of payments pursuant to that agreement were beyond the executive power of the Commonwealth.
Following the High Court’s decision, the national parliament enacted the Financial Framework Legislation Amendment Act (No 3) in an attempt to validate contracts and payments made under the National School Chaplaincy Program. Mr Williams challenged the validity and effectiveness of that legislation in Williams v Commonwealth (No 2).
Ron passionately advocates for secular public education and the separation of church and state.
Ron was awarded Australian Humanist of the Year in 2012.