René Cornish
Lecturer - School of Law
Phone: +61 2 6773 4578
Email: rcornis3@une.edu.au
Biography
Dr. René Cornish has a blend of both commercial and academic expertise. She has worked as a researcher fellow in both South African and Australia, lectured various commercial law subjects, and held senior roles in multi-national corporate entities.
Rene's PhD research examined the socio-legal consequences of social media on society, and more particularly, employment law in the Global South context. Much of her research is located at the intersections of technology, social media, race, online hate speech and marginalised communities. Rene's primary research interest areas include visual jurisprudence, the semiotics of law, forensic linguistics and social media as ‘witnessing.’
Qualifications
PhD (QUT) 2024, LLM (QUT) 2019, LLB (UJ) 1997, B. Juris (NMU) 1994.
Specialist qualifications in Alternative Dispute Resolution (UP/AFSA) 2005 and Labour Law (UJ) 1997.
Awards
Nomination: ODTA - Outstanding Doctoral Research Award (QUT)
Teaching Areas
Technology and the Law (LAW499)
Primary Research Area/s
Semiotics of law; Visual jurisprudence; Social media as 'witnessing'; Hate studies; Forensic linguistics
Research Interests
Law, Technology and Humans
Research Supervision Experience
LLB Honours, LLM
Publications
Chapter in Edited books
René Cornish, ‘Textual and Non-Verbal Expressions of Cyberhate in South African Social Media Misconduct Dismissals' in Anne Wagner and Sarah Marusek (eds), Law and Visual Jurisprudence Book Series (Springer, 2024) 461 - 493.
René Liffmann, ‘Social Security as a Constitutional Imperative: An Analysis and Comparative Perspective with Emphasis on the Effect of Globalization on Marginalization’ in Marius Olivier et al (eds), The Extension of Social Security Protection in South Africa – A Legal Inquiry (Siber Ink, 2001), 29 - 73.
René Liffmann et al, ‘Scope of Application’ in Marius Olivier et al (eds), Social Security Law: General Principles (LexisNexis Butterworths, 1999), 21 – 60.
René Liffmann et al, ‘Administration’ in Marius Olivier et al (eds), Social Security Law: General Principles (LexisNexis Butterworths, 1999), 61 - 99.
René Liffmann et al, ‘Constitutional Issues’ in Marius Olivier et al (eds), Social Security Law: General Principles (LexisNexis Butterworths, 1999) 499 – 525.
René Liffmann et al, ‘Scope of Application’ in Marius Olivier et al (eds), Social Security Law: General Principles (LexisNexis Butterworths, 1999), 21 – 60.
René Liffmann et al, ‘Administration’ in Marius Olivier et al (eds), Social Security Law: General Principles (LexisNexis Butterworths, 1999), 61 - 99.
René Liffmann et al, ‘Constitutional Issues’ in Marius Olivier et al (eds), Social Security Law: General Principles (LexisNexis Butterworths, 1999) 499 – 525.
Refereed Journal Articles
Simran Goklaney, René Cornish and Kieran Tranter, 'The Tensions of Serving the Public: Comcare v Banerji and Populism' (2025) International Journal of the Semiotics of Law (forthcoming)
René Cornish, 'Emojis in the Digital Post Literate: A nested polycrisis' (2025) International Journal of the Semiotics of Law (forthcoming)
René Cornish, ‘Unsilenced Employee Voice in South Africa: Social Media Misconduct Dismissals as Evidence of E-Voice’ (2022) 35(3) Management Revue - Social Science Journal 356 - 396.
René Cornish and Kieran Tranter, ‘Dismissals for Social Media Hate Speech in South Africa: Animalistic Dehumanisation and the Circulation of Racist Words and Images’ (2022) 35(6) International Journal of the Semiotics of Law, 2267 - 2301.
Sophie Sia, René Cornish and Kieran Tranter, ‘Fired for Facebook…terminated for Tinder: dismissal for social media misconduct in New Zealand’ (2021) 29(3) International Journal of Law and Information Technology, 204 – 224.
René Cornish and Kieran Tranter, ‘The Cultural, Economic and Technical Milieu of Social Media Misconduct Dismissals in Australia and South Africa’ (2020) 36(2) Law in Context, 17 - 48.
René Liffmann et al, ‘Those who have and those who don’t: an investigation into the limited scope of application of social security in South Africa’ (2000) 4(1) Law, Democracy & Development, 15 – 25.
René Liffmann et al, ‘Social Security: a conceptual framework’ (2000) 4(1) Law, Democracy & Development, 1 – 13.
Reports
Lisa Archbold, Morgan Broman, Ilana Bolingford, Mark Brady, Mark, René Cornish, and Kieran Tranter (2024), Submission to the Safe and responsible AI in Australia: introducing mandatory guardrails for AI in high-risk settings.
Memberships
Queensland Law Society (Registered Legal Practitioner).
