Law Council responds to Family Law Review
The Law Council has made a submission to the Australian Law Reform Commission’s Review of the Family Law System – Issues Paper 48. The ALRC review, announced in September 2017, is the first, independent comprehensive review of the family law system since the inception of the Family Law Act 1975 - more than forty years ago. It is often observed, that the family courts system is in crisis. Chronic underfunding for more than a decade has led to a court system which struggles continually to meet the needs of the community. Read more.
National Redress Scheme gains momentum
The Law Council has long supported a National Redress Scheme for survivors of institutional child sexual abuse and has acknowledged survivors often experience long lasting trauma, and in many cases, are not able to receive appropriate redress, compensation or counselling. Read more.
IBA Bar Leaders’ Conference & Mid-Year Meetings
Law Council President, Morry Bailes; CEO, Jonathan Smithers and Deputy CEO and Director, International, Margery Nicoll participated in the IBA Bar Leaders’ Conference and Mid-Year meetings in Oslo. The Law Council President spoke on the role of bar associations in promoting trade in legal services at the conference, along with representatives from the United Kingdom, the United States and France. Read more.
We are now on Facebook
The Law Council is currently increasing its social media presence and have now established a Facebook page. Be sure to visit our page for the latest developments and announcements from the Law Council.
Inquires and consultations as of 13 June 2018. Review of the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Bill 2017, Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security. The prosecution and sentencing of children for Commonwealth terrorist offences, Independent National Security Legislation Monitor. Review of superannuation and victims of crime compensation, The Treasury. Review of not-for-profit good governance principles, Australian Institute of Company Directors. Law Companion Ruling LCR 2018/D4 Housing affordability measures: contributing the proceeds of downsizing to superannuation, Australian Taxation Office. Law Companion Ruling LCR 2018/D5 First Home Super Saver Scheme, Australian Taxation Office. Review into the Australian Taxation Office’s use of Garnishee Notices, Inspector-General of Taxation. Review of the Product Stewardship Act 2011, including the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme, Department of the Environment and Energy. Terrorism Insurance Act Review 2018, The Treasury. Compensation and Rehabilitation for Veterans, Productivity Commission. Deferred prosecution agreement scheme code of practice, Attorney General’s Office. Inquiry into Class Action Proceedings and Third Party Litigation Funders, Australian Law Reform Commission. Post-implementation review of APRA’s superannuation prudential framework, Australian Prudential Regulation Authority. Call for submissions of case studies on action underway on the environment and energy Sustainable Development Goals, Department of the Environment and Energy. Reforms to Address Corporate Misuse of the Fair Entitlements Guarantee scheme – Draft Legislation, The Treasury.
Media releases: Key Coverage: - Between security and a hard place, Australian Financial Review, 14 June 2018
- False alarms over Family Court changes, Herald Sun, 14 June 2018.
- Family Court shakeup is logical but still unproven, Riverine Herald, 13 June 2018. Please note a mention for Morry Bailes.
- Australia's biometric database in disarray as contract suspended, SBS, 13 June 2018.
- Former federal judge, AHRC president named in Queen's Birthday honours list, Lawyers Weekly, 13 June 2018.
- LCA welcomes parliamentary espionage report, Lawyers Weekly, 12 June 2018.
- Interview with Morry Bailes on Sky News, ABC Radio Darwin, Curtin FM, 7LA, Launceston, HO FM , ABC Radio Canberra, ABC Radio Sydney, ABC Radio Melbourne, ABC Radio Brisbane, ABC Newcastle, ABC Radio Hobart, 4BC, 5AA, 11 June 2018, discussing privacy laws.
- 92% incorrect and racist: Civil liberty groups pan UK facial recognition roll out, The Big Smoke, 11 June 2018.
- Register too late for byelections, Sydney Morning Herald, 9 June 2018.
- Foreign influence measure won't be ready for byelections, The Age, 9 June 2018.
- Interview with Morry Bailes on ABC Radio Canberra AM, 8 June 2018, discussing espionage and foreign interference.
- Interview with Morry Bailes on ABC News
Sydney, ABC News Melbourne, 8 June 2018, discussing the foreign espionage bill.
- Interview with Morry Bailes on Radio National AM, 8 June 2018, discussing the Federal Government’s anti-espionage bills as it try to crackdown on foreign interference in Australian politics.
- Overhaul for foreign interference laws in bipartisan deal, Sydney Morning Herald, 7 June 2018.
- Labor and Coalition agree to espionage laws critics fear would 'criminalise' journalism, The Guardian, 5 June 2018.
- Interview with Stephanie Borys, ABC political reporter, on Radio National PM, 5 June 2018, discussing the Espionage and Foreign Interference Bill 2017 and mentioning the Law Council.
- New laws set to punish spies, curb interference, The Age, 5 June 2018.
- Three-judge appeals 'make system robust', The Australian, 5 June 2018.
- Interview with Morry Bailes on ABC Mid North Coast, 1 June 2018, discussing the Federal Court
Circuit with the Family Court merger.
- Interview with Morry Bailes on 2CC Canberra, 1 June 2018, discussing the National Redress Scheme and Federal Court Circuit with the Family Court merger.
Upcoming events 2018 For more events and information, visit the Law Council's event page.
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