LCA National Policy Lawyers Forum 2023
Last week, policy lawyers and communications specialists from the Law Council’s Constituent Bodies gathered in Canberra for the National Policy Lawyers’ Forum.
The forum was an outstanding event, providing an invaluable opportunity to share knowledge, ideas and strategy, as well as hear from a diverse range of speakers across a range of topics, ranging from policy and the media to access to justice issues.
Read more here.
New Zealand Law Society Board and Council Meetings
Law Council President, Mr Luke Murphy, and Acting Chief Executive Officer, Ms Margery Nicoll, attended the New Zealand Law Society Board and Council Meetings held in Wellington on 27 – 28 April 2023.
President Murphy addressed both the Board and the Council in their meetings on 27 and 28 April respectively, reporting on legal sector issues in Australia including the referendum on the Voice to Parliament, the establishment of the National-Anti-Corruption Commission and proposed Federal Judicial Commission, and proposed amendments to extend the application of Australia’s anti-money-laundering and counterterrorism financing (AML/CTF) regime to the legal profession.
Read more here.
Law Council submission to and appearance at Parliamentary hearing in response to the Inquiry into the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice Referendum
On 1 May 2023, Law Council of Australia President, Mr Luke Murphy, and a panel of expert witnesses appeared before the Joint Select Committee on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice Referendum (Committee) to give evidence on behalf of the Law Council in relation to the Committee’s inquiry into the provisions of the Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023 (Constitution Alteration).
The Law Council’s appearance at the parliamentary hearing followed its comprehensive submission to the Committee, dated 21 April 2023. This submission was prepared with the advice and approval of the Law Council’s Voice Referendum Working Group and drew on input from several of its Constituent Bodies.
The Law Council has supported a constitutionally enshrined Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice since a decision of its Directors in October 2017.
Read more here.
Review of the National Security Legislation Amendment (Comprehensive Review and Other Measures No. 2) Bill 2023
On 6 April 2023, the Law Council provided a submission in response to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security’s (the Committee) Review of the National Security Legislation Amendment (Comprehensive Review and Other Measures No. 2) Bill 2023 (the Bill).
The Bill proposes amendments to the legislative framework governing the National Intelligence Community (NIC) by implementing some recommendations by the far-reaching Comprehensive Review of the Legal Framework of the National Intelligence Community (known as the Richardson Review).
In principle, the Law Council recognises that NIC agencies must be well-equipped to face national security threats and that the Australian Government has a primary responsibility to protect the life and security of the person. However, in order to preserve the values that underpin our democratic society, Australia’s laws must be reasonable, necessary and proportionate to achieve a legitimate objective.
Read more here.
LCA Submissions
Recently published Law Council Submissions.
- Inquiry into the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice Referendum, Joint Select Committee on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice Referendum.
- Consultation Paper: Review into an appropriate cost model for Commonwealths anti-discrimination laws, Attorney-General's Department.
- Review of the National Security Legislation Amendment (Comprehensive Review and Other Measures No. 2) Bill 2023, Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security.
- Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Protecting Worker Entitlements) Bill 2023, Senate Education and Employment Committees.
Section Submissions
Recently published Section Submissions.
- Treasury Laws Amendment (Refining and Improving Our Tax System) Bill 2023, Senate Standing Committees on Economics, (Legal Practice Section).
- Better targeted superannuation concessions, The Treasury, (Legal Practice Section).
- Inquiry into promoting economic dynamism, competition and business formation, Standing Committee on Economics, (Business Law Section).
Inquiries and consultations
As of 5 May 2023
- 2023-2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy Discussion Paper, Department of Home Affairs.
Consultation paper on conditional costs agreements, Legal Services Council.
CP 369 Remaking ASIC class orders on platforms: [CO 13/762] and [CO 13/763], ASIC.
[202309] Tax treatment of crypto assets, Australian Taxation Office.
Review of Secrecy Provisions, Attorney-General's Department.
Plant breeder’s rights reform, IP Australia.
Scoping the development of specialised and trauma-informed legal services for victims and survivors of sexual assault, Attorney-General's Department.
Review into philanthropic giving, Productivity Commission.
A new system of federal administrative review, Attorney-General's Department.
2023 Workplace Reform Consultations, Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.
The operation of Commonwealth Freedom of Information (FOI) laws, Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee.
Greenwashing, Senate Standing Committees on Environment and Communications.
Inquiry into Australia's Human Rights Framework, Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights.
News and Media
Media releases/statement:
Key media articles:
- Greenwashing can be a brag too far, the Australian Institute of Company Directors, the Australian Banking Association, the Insurance Council of Australia, the Business Council of Australia and the Law Council of Australia are among those to argue the government must provide safe harbours or legal carve outs, Australian Financial Review, 05 May 2023.
- Federal Government consults on tranche 2 AML reforms for lawyers, Queensland Law Society and the Law Council of Australia have undertaken longstanding advocacy on the application of AML/CTF regulation to the legal profession, QLS Proctor, 3 May 2023.
Spies seek protection for bugging, hacking, the Law Council is not satisfied by the quality of the justification provided by the explanatory memorandum, The Australian, 3 May 2023.
Passport renewal through myGov on the way, the Law Council of Australia and others have pushed for the harmonisation of rules, Australian Financial Review, 24 April 2023.
‘Vague’ foreign influence laws in focus as Australian businessman accused of taking money from spies, The Guardian, 23 April 2023.
Privacy Act reforms must uphold human rights, say advocates, the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), the Human Rights Law Centre (HRLC), and the Law Council of Australia (LCA) focused on key propositions in the Report in addressing the protection of personal information, Lawyers Weekly Australia, 21 April 2023.
Upcoming Events
The Law Council of Australia, along with the Australian Pro Bono Centre and the Queensland Law Society invite you to attend the 8th National Access to Justice & Pro Bono Conference. The conference will be held on 21–23 June 2023 in Brisbane.
A two-day program will explore the various challenges and opportunities associated with enhancing access to legal services and pro bono work, with plenaries and four session tracks to choose from, including a focus on pro bono matters, family and relationship law. Hear from leading speakers on critical and current access to justice issues facing Australians.
For more information about ticket prices visit the event website here.
Public interest in artificial intelligence has exploded following release of numerous publicly available generative artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT. It is important committee members of the LCA understand the technology, risks, and legal and ethical issues arising from artificial intelligence (and more specifically generative AI), given they will increasingly be asked to engage on the topic.
The BLS' Digital Commerce Committee and Intellectual Property Committee will be hosting a series of lunchtime webinars available to members across the BLS & LCA to explore foundational and more specific risks/legal issues relating to artificial intelligence.
For more information and register here.
Join the Law Council of Australia's International Law Section for a one off webinar on Space Law. The topic is “Outer Space, High-Altitude and International Law: What’s in a Name?”, presented by Emeritus Professor Steven Freeland of International Law at Western Sydney University.
Registration is free, however registration is required. Please note, limited spots available. Learn more and register here.
The International Law Section (ILS) is pleased to invites you to attend ILS Young Lawyers Summit to be held on 18 May 2023 in Sydney.
The half-day Summit is for young Australian lawyers interested in international law issues and careers in international law and practice. The speakers will feature eminent speakers including H.E. Mr Vasyl Myroshnychenko and Professor Donald Rothwell.
Registrations close 14 May 2023, unless sold out prior. Learn more and register here.
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 11th Mahla Pearlman Oration on 20 July 2023 in Sydney and online.
The Mahla Pearlman Oration honours the memory of the late Honourable Mahla Pearlman AO, the former Chief Judge of the Land and Environment Court of New South Wales (1992–2003), and former President of the Law Council of Australia (1989–90). The annual event is a tribute to Chief Judge Pearlman’s achievements and inspiration to younger generations of environmental lawyers. Learn more and register here.
The Legal Practice Section's Australian Consumer Law Committee, will be hosting another exciting ‘Consumer Rights Forum’ in Brisbane and by webinar. This year's topic is "Natural Disaster Insurance: The Real Cost".
Limited number of tickets available with complimentary entry, registrations close Tuesday, 11 July 2023, unless sold out prior. Learn more and register here.
The Immigration Law Committee from the Federal Dispute Resolution Section of the Law Council of Australia is pleased to announce it will be hosting a seminar event for lawyers in the Gold Coast.
The seminar will include a noteworthy panel of speakers with exceptional knowledge and experience.
In-person registrations is now open, and close COB Friday, 13 October 2023. Learn more and register here.
The Law Council of Australia’s Federal Litigation and Dispute Resolution Section will be hosting its annual Immigration Law Conference on 22 - 23 March 2024. The conference will be conducted over two days and will canvass current issues in Australian immigration law.
If you would like to be placed on the mailing list for this event, please contact the Section Administrator on the details below. Registrations will open mid to late 2023. Learn more here.
LAWASIA and the Sabah Law Society are very pleased to invite the participation of members and legal professionals at the 12th LAWASIA Employment Law Conference, to be held in Kota Kinabalu (Sabah), Malaysia, from 8 to 10 June 2023.
Registrations are now open! Learn more and register here.
