Dr James Popple appointed Law Council CEO
The Law Council of Australia is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr James Popple as its new Chief Executive Officer. Dr Popple will begin his new role on 25 July 2022.
Dr Popple served as the Official Secretary to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide and to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. He was also the inaugural Freedom of Information Commissioner, a Senior Member of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, and a member of the ACT Remuneration Tribunal. Prior to that, Dr Popple worked for 12 years in the Australian Attorney-General's Department.
“The Law Council undertook an extensive recruitment process to find its new CEO and we are delighted that someone of Dr Popple’s calibre and experience is joining us,” Law Council of Australia President, Mr Tass Liveris said.
The Law Council of Australia thanks Deputy CEO, Margery Nicoll for stepping into the Acting CEO role while the hunt for a permanent Chief Executive Officer was underway.
Law Council consulting on design of National Anti-Corruption Commission
On 6 July 2022, the Law Council President, Mr Tass Liveris, attended a roundtable discussion hosted by the Attorney-General, the Hon Mark Dreyfus QC MP, on the design of the National Anti-Corruption Commission. Following the roundtable, the Law Council will be further consulting with Constituent Bodies on further discrete, policy issues which are likely to arise during the development of the Commission, specifically:
- the ability for the Commission to investigate past conduct;
- the availability of judicial review;
- the independence of the Commission; and
- whistleblower protections.
Law Council calls on governments to adopt UN Declaration on Rights of Indigenous People
In a submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee’s Inquiry into the Application of United Nations Declaration on Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP) the Law Council of Australia has called on governments to comprehensively adopt the UNDRIP.
The Law Council noted that to date the protections offered by the Declaration have only been implemented domestically in a piecemeal manner.
“Given the systemic nature of the issues facing First Nations peoples, comprehensive legal and policy reform across all federal, state and territory jurisdictions is required. Without this, breaches of human rights in Australia will continue to occur,” Law Council of Australia President, Mr Tass Liveris said.
“The UNDRIP is the authoritative international standard informing the way governments across the globe should engage with and protect the rights of Indigenous peoples.”
Mahla Pearlman Australian Young Environmental Lawyer of the Year
Matt Floro has won the 2022 Mahla Pearlman Australian Young Environmental Lawyer of the Year. Mr Floro is a Special Counsel advising on environmental, planning, climate change and administrative law at the Environmental Defenders Office and has been involved in a series of leading-edge climate law cases. Mr Floro has led Out for Australia Victoria, the Australian Law Students’ Association and his university law society. He currently serves as President of the National Environmental Law Association and National Vice-President of the Asian Australian Lawyers Association.
Collaery case highlights need to reform NSI Act
The Law Council is calling for the National Security Information (Criminal and Civil Proceedings) Act 2004 to be reviewed following the Attorney-General’s decision to direct the discontinuation of the prosecution of lawyer Bernard Collaery.
The Law Council considers secrecy offences must be reviewed to ensure there are adequate protections for whistleblowers and their legal advisers who are concerned about potential matters of illegality.
The Law Council has long advocated for significant reforms to the NSI Act to ensure that the court maintains the interests of justice without being directed to place greater weight on any one consideration, such as national security, over other equally important considerations.
Section Submissions
Recently published Section Submissions.
- ASIC consultation paper 358 remaking ASIC relief on product disclosure statements, superannuation dashboards and financial services guides (CP 358), Australian Securities and Investments Commission, (Business Law Section & Legal Practice Section)
- ASIC Consultation Paper 360 Corporate collective investment vehicles: Preparing for the commencement of the new regime (CP 360), Australian Securities and Investments Commission, (Business Law Section)
- Submission in response to ASX’s public consultation on proposed enhancements to the ASX Listing Rules: continually improving the reputation and integrity of the ASX market, ASX Limited, (Business Law Section)
- ASIC consultation paper 362 extension of the binary options product intervention order (CP 362), Australian Securities & Investments Commission, (Business Law Section)
- Overview Paper - Consultation on IT3 Proposals for Substantive Patent Law Harmonisation, IP Australia, (Business Law Section)
Inquiries and consultations
As of 15 July 2022
- Interoperability pricing for Electronic Lodgment Network Operators - Issues Paper, Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (NSW), (Law Council)
- CP 363 Remaking ASIC class order on financial requirements for retail OTC derivative issuers: [CO 12/752], ASIC, (Business Law Section)
- Review of the Legislative Framework for Corporations and Financial Services Regulation, Australian Law Reform Commission, (Business Law Section)
Upcoming Events
LAWASIA Alternative Dispute Resolution Conference
9-10 September 2022 Denarau, Fiji
LAWASIA, in association with the South Pacific Lawyers’ Association, the Commonwealth Lawyers Association, the International Law Section of Law Council of Australia and the Fiji Law Society is pleased to invite the participation of members and legal professionals at the LAWASIA Alternative Dispute Resolution Conference, to be held in Fiji from Friday 9 to Saturday 10 September 2022.
Alternative dispute resolution, in its various forms, is of increasing significance in the South Pacific. Whilst the process is becoming increasingly common, it is also becoming more challenging, especially as it is applied to new and emerging issues and the challenges faced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hear from leading international and local experts sharing thematic insights on topics such as International Commercial Arbitration and the Singapore Convention on Mediation, as well as their views on recent ADR developments.
As a conference bonus, registered delegates are entitled to attend an interactive workshop on 9 September 2022, at which international experts will provide an overview of essential ADR theory and key issues. This is intended as both an introduction for those with limited experience in the area of ADR, and a refresher for more experienced practitioners, with a view to equipping delegates to obtain maximum benefit from the main program.
For more information and to register, visit https://lawasiafiji2022.com/
Mahla Pearlman Oration
The Legal Practice Section of the Law Council of Australia and the Environment and Planning Law Association of New South Wales will co-host the 10th Mahla Pearlman Oration on 27 July 2022 in Sydney and online. https://www.lawcouncil.asn.au/event/mahla-pearlman-oration-2022
Migration Law Seminar
The Migration Law Committee from the Federal Litigation and Dispute Resolution Section of the Law Council of Australia is pleased to announce it will be hosting a seminar event for lawyers on Friday 14 October 2022 in Adelaide and online. https://www.lawcouncil.asn.au/event/migration-law-seminar
Save the date – Immigration Law Conference
The Law Council of Australia’s Federal Litigation and Dispute Resolution Section will be hosting its annual Immigration Law Conference on 17-18 March 2023 in Sydney and online. The conference will be conducted over two days and will canvass current issues in Australian immigration law. https://www.lawcouncil.asn.au/event/immigration-law-conference-2023
Commemoration of the Abolition of the Death Penalty in Queensland 1922 - 2022
To commemorate 100 years since Queensland’s historic abolition of the death penalty on 31 July 1922, a series of events will be held on 1 August 2022 at the Premier’s Hall, Parliament House, Brisbane.
This all-day event will run from 11am and will include a keynote address from Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG, as well a series of panel discussions throughout the day.
At the conclusion of the discussions, The Penalty of Death will be launched by author Kerry O’Brien, and edited by Barry Jones AC. This collection of writings in opposition of the death penalty includes works by Dickens, Camus, and Orwell, as well as modern contributions by Michael Kirby, Barry Jones and Julian McMahon.
In a special auction, a portrait of Barry Jones by photographer Bill Henson will also be auctioned, with proceeds going to the Capital Punishment Justice Project (CPJP).
To join in person or via zoom, register here: Commemoration of the Abolition of the Death Penalty in Queensland 1922 - 2022, Brisbane City, 1st of August | Humanitix
