| Age and experience defeated youth and enthusiasm last month when two teams of Monash Law alumni debated the question 'Should the law allow genetic engineering to create the perfect baby?'.
The Great Law Week Debate was co-hosted by the Law faculty and the Law Institute of Victoria. Held in the Legislative Council chamber of Parliament House in front of students and legal professionals, the debate was part of celebrations to mark the 40th anniversary of the Monash Law School
The over-40s team, who argued against the genetic engineering of babies, won the day. The result was not surprising as the team's three members included some of Melbourne's top legal brains -- Mr Julian Burnside QC, Mr David Shavin QC and Mr Simon Wilson QC.
The under-40s team, who argued in favour of the question, included a current Monash law student and two Monash law alumni. They were former World and Australasian Debating Champion Ms Kim Little, from law firm Clayton Utz; former Australasian Debating Champion runner-up Mr Chris Fladgate, who works at law firm Mallesons Stephen Jaques; and Monash arts/law student and current Australasian Debating Champion runner-up Ms Simin Kocdag.
The five-member judging panel -- Monash Law dean Professor Arie Freiberg, Law Institute of Victoria president Mr Chris Dale, Melbourne City councillor Ms Kimberly Kitching, barrister Ms Roisin Annesley and Monash Association of Debaters president Mr Tim Sonnreich -- all decided that the negative team's arguments were more persuasive.
The special guest moderator was acclaimed public speaker, impersonator and Monash alumnus Mr Campbell McComas.
The QCs told the audience it would be catastrophic to allow politicians to design the population by deciding what constituted a perfect baby, while the younger team argued that state-sponsored genetic engineering should be available to everyone because the technology provides healthier, smarter babies. | 
