Witness K and Collaery prosecution
The Law Council continues to closely monitor the Commonwealth’s case against Witness K and Bernard Collaery.
In June, the Commonwealth filed criminal charges against Witness K and Bernard Collaery under the Intelligence Services Act 2001. The charges relate to communication of intelligence information concerning the bugging of East Timor’s cabinet rooms by the Australian Secret Intelligence Service in 2004, during negotiations on an oil and gas treaty between the two countries. Read more.
Australian Human Rights Commission National Inquiry into Sexual Harassment in Australian Workplaces
The development of the Law Council's submission to the Australian Human Rights Commission’s National Inquiry into Sexual Harassment in Australian Workplaces is underway. The submission will draw on findings from the National Attrition and Re-engagement Study conducted by the Law Council in 2013. Read
more.
Justice Project briefings
The Law Council President and Deputy Director of Policy were invited to present to the Judicial Council on Cultural Diversity regarding the Justice Project’s final report. The briefing will focus on the chapters concerning Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, Recent Arrivals and Courts and Tribunals. Read more.
Committee on the Rights of the Child
On 1 November 2018 the Law Council submitted a Shadow Report to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child regarding Australia’s compliance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Read more.
Right to representation before the Fair Work Commission
On 7 November 2018, the Chair of the Industrial Law Committee of the Federal Litigation & Dispute Resolution Section Ingmar Taylor SC and President of the Law Council, Morry Bailes, wrote to the Minister for Jobs & Industrial Relations, the Hon Kelly O’Dwyer MP, Shadow Minister and President of the Fair Work Commission on the right to representation at the commission. Read more.
Advocacy
Inquiries and consultations as of 15 November 2018
- Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2018, Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia Bill 2018, Parliamentary Senate Standing Committees on Legal and Constitutional Affairs
- The digital economy and Australia’s corporate tax system, The Treasury
- Comprehensive review of the legal framework governing the National Intelligence Community, Attorney-General’s Department
- Exposure draft native title reforms, Attorney-General’s Department
- Motor accident injury insurance and automated vehicles, National Transport Commission
- The effectiveness of the current temporary skilled visa system in targeting genuine skills shortages, Parliamentary Senate Standing Committees On Legal And Constitutional Affairs
- Call for submissions of case studies on action underway on the environment and energy Sustainable Development Goals, Department of the Environment and Energy
- National Inquiry into Sexual Harassment in Australian Workplaces, Australian Human Rights Commission
News and Media
Key Coverage:
What does the facial recognition program proposed by the government mean for your privacy ABC's Matter of Fact. 13 November 2018.
Fears over motivation of FFA power-seekers. Illawarra Mercury, 13 November 2018.
FFA hopefuls to be grilled. The Age. 12 November 2018.
Fresh calls to close Don Dale after latest violent incident. The Guardian. 8 November 2018.
'We've only just started': How the parties stack up on family violence. The Age. 4 November 2018.
Break up is so hard to do. The Australian. 3 November 2018.
Judge calls for law reform to combat defamation surge. The Australian. 1 November 2018.
Federal Court deserves fair hearing. Australian Financial Review. 1 November 2018.
Events
Upcoming events
2018
- 6 December - Hot Topics in Commonwealth Compensation
Host: Federal Litigation Dispute Resolution Section
Venue: MinterEllison, Sydney
Email: travis.kotzur@lawcouncil.asn.au
For more events and information, visit the Law Council's event page.
