Singapore and Hong Kong
2021 Opening of the Legal Year

Due to COVID-19, events to mark the 2021 Opening of the Legal Year (OLY) were convened online.

On 11 January, Law Council President, Dr Jacoba Brasch QC, attended the Presidents’ Roundtable Dialogue convened by the Law Society of Singapore. Dr Brasch QC appeared in the session themed “Bar leadership lessons in managing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic” alongside panellists Salim Bashir Bhaskaran (President of the Malaysian Bar Council) and Chen Fang (Vice President of Guandong Lawyers Association).

The session was opened by the President of Singapore Law Society, Gregory Vijayendran SC, and moderated by Brian Speers, President of Commonwealth Lawyers Association. Read more.

Northern Territory Opening of the Legal Year 2021
Law Council President, Dr Jacoba Brasch QC, virtually attended two events to commence the Opening of the Legal Year in the Northern Territory. Read the speech from the OYL Alice Spring here and the OYL Darwin here.

Alternatively, watch the OYL Darwin event here.

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Welcome ceremony for the Hon Justice Steward
Law Council Treasurer, Ross Drinnan, attended a ceremonial sitting in Canberra on 1 February 2021, at the High Court to welcome the Honourable Justice Simon Steward. Read speech here.

Australia’s Universal Periodic Review (3rd Cycle)
Australia’s human rights record was considered by members of the United Nations during its third Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on 20 January 2021. In the lead up to the UPR, the Law Council provided a comprehensive stakeholder submission to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights which was extensively cited in the UN summary of stakeholders’ submissions. The Law Council is grateful for the advice of its expert advisory committees, sections and constituent bodies in informing this submission. Read more.

BLS Report Podcast
The BLS Report, produced by the Business Law Section, is a podcast series which explores topics of interest arising from the fields or practice of business law and is available to the public.

The latest episode ‘Regulating the Digital Platforms’, examines the current issues of competition in the world of digital platforms and what actions regulators are taking both in Australia and internationally to manage these issues. Listen to past episodes here.

The next episode is scheduled to be released in March. Subscribe to the BLS Report here.

Bankruptcy Regulations 2021 - Exposure Draft & Discussion Paper
The Insolvency & Restructuring Committee of the Business Law Section provided a submission to the Attorney-General’s Department in response to the Discussion Paper and Exposure Draft of the Bankruptcy Regulations 2021. Read more.

LCA Submissions

Recently published Law Council Submissions.

Regulatory Powers (Standardisation Reform) Bill 2020, Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee.
Climate Change (National Framework for Adaption and Mitigation) Bill 2020 and Climate Change (National Framework for Adaption and Mitigation) (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2020, House of Representatives Standing Committee on the Environment and Energy.
Counsel Assisting’s final submissions – recommendation 102, Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.
Review of the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) – Issues Paper, Attorney-General’s Department.
An AI Action Plan for All Australians: A Call for Views, Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources.
Singapore Convention on Mediation – Consultation Paper, Attorney-General’s Department.

Section Submissions

Recently published Section Submissions.

Education and training expense deductions for individuals, The Treasury, Business Law Section.
Answer to question taken on notice – Temporary Visa Employer Register, Select Committee on Temporary Migration, Federal Litigation Dispute Resolution Section.
ASX Limited (ASX) Proposed Listing Rules changes: online forms, notification of security issues and corporate action timetables Public Consultation, ASX Limited, Business Law Section.
Bankruptcy Regulations 2021 - Exposure Draft & Discussion Paper, Attorney-General’s Department, Business Law Section.
Second Issues Paper – Employee Share Schemes, Senate Select Committee on Financial Technology and Regulatory Technology, Business Law Section.

Inquiries and consultations

As of 3 February 2021.

Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic Recovery) Bill 2020 [Provisions], Parliamentary Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee.
2021-22 Migration Program, Department of Home Affairs.
National Consumer Credit Protection Amendment (Supporting Economic Recovery) Bill 2020 [Provisions], Parliamentary Senate Economics Legislation Committee.
Commonwealth Integrity Commission consultation draft, Attorney-General’s Department
Consultation on remuneration requirements for all APRA-regulated entities, Australian Prudential Regulation Authority.
Occupational Mobility, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Coercive control in domestic relationships, Parliament of NSW Legislative Council, Joint Select Committee on Coercive Control.
Review of the electoral legislation amendment (Electoral Funding and Disclosure Reform) Act 2018, Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee On Electoral Matters.
Review of the Security Legislation Amendment (Critical Infrastructure) Bill 2020 and Statutory Review of the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018, Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security.
Review Of CGT Roll‐Overs Second Consultation Paper, The Board of Taxation.
2021-22 Pre-Budget Submissions, The Treasury.
Right to Repair, Productivity Commission.
Review of the Surveillance Legislation Amendment (Identify and Disrupt) Bill 2020, Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security.
Review of the Intelligence Oversight and Other Legislation Amendment (Integrity Measures) Bill 2020, Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security.
Indigenous Voice Co-Design Process, National Indigenous Australians Agency.
Review of Judicial Impartiality, Australian Law Reform Commission.
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.
Review of the Legislative Framework for Corporations and Financial Services Regulation, Australian Law Reform Commission.
The bankruptcy system and the impacts of coronavirus, Attorney-General’s Department.
CP 337 Externally administered companies: Extending financial reporting and AGM relief, Australian Securities and Investments Commission.

News and Media

Media statements:

Law Council welcomes appointment of Acting Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, 18 January 2021.
Law Council calls on government to Raise the Age, 21 January 2021.
Law Council congratulates Bret Walker AO SC, 28 January 2021.

Key coverage:‘

UN push to lift age of legal responsibility, The Age, 22 January 2021.
‘Raise the age': LCA addresses bleak findings on Australia's criminal responsibility laws, Lawyers Weekly, 25 January 2021.
Law Council congratulates Bret Walker AO SC, National Tribune, 28 January 2021.
Law Council boss hails 'hero' lawyers, AFR, 29 January 2021.

Events

February 2021