Message from the Chair

Parliamentary Hearing – Inquiry into the prerequisites
for nuclear energy in Australia

Australian Environment & Planning Law Group

On the 18 October 2019 the Australian Environment & Planning Law Group of the Legal Practice Section were asked to give evidence before the Standing Committee on the Environment and Energy on the inquiry into the prerequisites for nuclear energy in Australia. The Committee was represented by the Chair, Ms Robyn Glindemann, and the Deputy Chair, Dr Leonie Kelleher OAM. Both were involved in an interactive and informative roundtable hearing in front of the Standing Committee, Chaired by Mr Ted O’Brien MP the member for Fairfax and other Senators/Members of Parliament. Read more.

The balancing game of bonuses – carrot,
stick, chicken or egg?

Australian Law Management Group

Law firms continue to use bonus arrangements to reward and provide incentives for employees, but management needs to weigh up the real impact they may or may not have – while remembering that motivating factors can vary from person to person, writes Leonie Green. Read more.

Leasing update - read the fine print: A signed offer to lease document considered non-binding

Australian Property Law Group

In ACME Properties Pty Ltd v Perpetual Corporate Trust Ltd as Trustee for Braeside Trust [2019] FCA 1189, the Court considered whether the acceptance of an apparent offer to lease a premises constituted a legally binding agreement. Whilst such a document would ordinarily appear likely to have created a binding contract, the court emphasised the significance of the fact that the offer was subject to the execution of all legal documents. Read more.

Inaugural John Emerson Oration

On the 7 August 2019 the Inaugural John Emerson AM oration was delivered by Commissioner Robert Fitzgerald AM in regards to ‘Lawyers and their influence under the public spotlight. Will Royal Commissions and community expectations change legal practice’ in the Federal Court in Melbourne.

LPS members can watch the full Oration here

Young Property Lawyer of the Year Award (Victoria)

The Property Law Committee from the Legal Practice Section presented the Young Property Lawyer of the Year Award 2019 (Victoria) to Tim Chislett from Allens, at the Property Law Conference in Melbourne, 23 August 2019.

Tim is a real estate specialist, providing legal and strategic advice in relation to complex property developments, leases, capital transactions and real estate joint ventures. Read more.

Superannuation Conference 2020

The Superannuation Committee of the Legal Practice Section will be convening its next conference on the 11-13 March 2020 at the Pullman Hotel in South Australia. This year the conference theme is “BEAR necessities”, being a reference to the Royal Commission recommendation for the “Banking Executive Accountability Regime”.

2020 Future of Environmental Law Symposium

The Australian Environment and Planning Law Group in conjunction with the Law Society of New South Wales will be convening its next Future of Environmental Law Symposium on Thursday, 26 March 2020 in Sydney.

The focus of the symposium will be on the role of the Commonwealth in addressing the key environmental challenges facing our country, with many of those challenges becoming more complex as we face a drying climate, more extreme weather events and the devastation of habitats from an ever-increasing bushfire season. 

Mahla Pearlman Oration

For Fools Rush in Where Angels Fear to Tread: Criticism of the
Judiciary Amidst the Climate Crisis

The Mahla Pearlman Oration "For Fools Rush in Where Angels Fear to Tread: Criticism of the Judiciary Amidst the Climate Crisis" will be given by leading barrister, Mr Bret Walker SC. In this oration, Mr Bret Walker SC discusses the limits of judicial review in the face of climate change policy inadequacy.

The Oration will also include the presentation of the Mahla Pearlman Australian Young Environmental Lawyer of the Year Award.

• Australian Accounting Standards Board on the exposure draft in relation to the AASB Exposure Draft: Not for Profit Entity Definition and Guidance.
• Performance Audit: Regulation of Charities by the Australian Charities and Not for Profits Commission.
• Consultation Paper 321: Whistleblower Policies.
• Inquiry into the Prerequisites for nuclear energy in Australia.
• Electoral Matters on the Commonwealth Electoral Amendment (Real Time Disclosure of Political Donations) Bill 2019
• Religious Freedom Bills.
• Submission to the Productivity Commission on Resources Sector Regulation.
• Product Stewardship Amendment (Packaging and Plastics) Bill 2019.
• 2020-21 Pre-Budget Submission.
• Inquiry into Australia’s Waste Management and Recycling Industries.
• Proposed revisions to the Prudential Standards SPS 250 Insurance in Superannuation.
• Consultation into the Uluru-Kata Draft Management Plan.