Rights and Responsibilities under the
Biosecurity Act

In partnership with the Australian Medical Association, the Law Council of Australia has put together a biosecurity fact sheet titled ‘Rights and Responsibilities under the Biosecurity Act’. Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in Australia, federal, state and territory governments have introduced expansive measures in an attempt to limit the spread of the virus. This fact sheet provides information on the rights and responsibilities of individuals in relation to these measures in different circumstances, with a focus on measures implemented under the Biosecurity Act 2015 (Cth). Read more.

High Court decision highlights ongoing vulnerability
While the Australian Federal Police raid on News Corporation journalist Annika Smethurst was found to be unlawful by the High Court, the judgment highlights the Law Council’s continued concerns about the ongoing vulnerability of public interest journalism. Read more.

Heavy-handed police risk public support for coronavirus measures
The Law Council of Australia supports measures to keep Australians safe from infectious diseases. Law Council President, Pauline Wright, says measures should be proportionate and should not outlast the crisis. You can listen to the full interview with Ms Wright on ABC PM with Linda Mottram here.

Cross party Senate Select Committee
The Law Council supports the establishment of a cross party Senate Select Committee, to review and report on the Australian Government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic and looks forward to seeing the Terms of Reference. Given the government’s current plans to adjourn parliament until August 2020, with limited exceptions, the ability to scrutinise decisions has been restricted. Read more.

Mahla Pearlman Award for the Australian Young Environmental Lawyer of the Year
The 2020 Mahla Pearlman Australian Young Environmental Lawyer of the Year has been awarded to Hubert Algie. Hubert is a lawyer with Kellehers Australia, a specialist environment law firm based in Melbourne. Read more.

Australasian Law Management Journal
The latest edition of the Australasian Law Management Journal provides information on maximising firm performance during the shut-down period. Read more.

The Business Law Section will be offering its three scholarships and the Baxt Prize again in 2020:

Gaire Blunt Scholarship - for papers on a topic in the field of competition law.
Santow Scholarship - for papers on a topic in the field of corporations law.
Forsyth/Pose Scholarship - for papers on a topic in the field of taxation law.
Baxt Prize - awarded for an outstanding journal article on a topic related to Australian trade practices, corporate law or taxation law.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted on an official application form, downloadable from the Law Council website. Applications close 5pm, 31 August 2020 AEST. Please submit applications to ScholarshipsBLS@lawcouncil.asn.au.

If you have any questions about the scholarships or the Baxt Prize, please contact the BLS Administrator, Jessica Morrow, via email Jessica.Morrow@lawcouncil.asn.au or phone 02 6246 3737.

Advocacy

Inquiries and consultations as of 9 April 2020.

Independent review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, Department of the Environment and Energy.
Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements, Royal Commission.
Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability – Criminal Justice System Issues Paper, Royal Commission.
Inquiry into Future Directions for the Consumer Data Right: Issues Paper, The Treasury.
Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (International Production Orders) Bill 2020, Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security.
International Strategy on Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Integrity of Australia's border arrangements, Parliamentary Joint Committee on the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity.
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Climate Trigger) Bill 2020, Parliamentary Senate Standing Committees on Environment and Communications.
Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, Royal Commission.
3rd UPR cycle: contributions and participation of "other stakeholders" in the UPR, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Australia.
Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability, Royal Commission.
Review into the Framework of Religious Exemptions in Anti-discrimination Legislation, Australian Law Reform Commission.
Improving protections of employees’ wages and entitlements: further strengthening the civil compliance and enforcement framework, Attorney-General’s Department.
Review of the Code for the Tendering and Performance of Building Work 2016, Attorney-General’s Department.
Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), Attorney-General's Department.

News and Media

Media Release:

Key Coverage:

The coronavirus response has created a more accessible society – but how long will it last?, The Guardian, 13 April 2020.
Electronic tracking devices among new coronavirus powers for WA security agencies, SBS, 12 April 2020.
Judge-only trials weighed amid crisis, The Age, 12 April 2020.
Legal groups back Senate Select Committee into COVID-19 response, Lawyers Weekly, 8 April 2020.
Coronavirus, emergency laws and civil liberties: Are our rights and freedoms at risk? ABC Online, 3 April 2020.
Confusion, anxiety about COVID-19 restrictions, The World Today, 3 April 2020.
The new powers governments are enacting to stop the spread of coronavirus, Sydney Morning Herald, 28 March 2020.
Sacrificing privacy 'worth it', The Australian, 27 March 2020.
How to deal with custody issues during pandemic, Herald Sun, 22 March 2020.