The Justice Project to uncover systemic flaws
The Law Council has announced that it is conducting a comprehensive national review into the impediments to justice in Australia, focusing on those facing significant social and economic disadvantage in our community. The Justice Project will uncover systemic flaws and ensure the path towards equal access to justice is clearly mapped-out. It will report its…
Unconscious bias training now available to all Australian lawyers
In a national first, a customised unconscious bias training program aimed specifically at the legal profession is now accessible from this week. Diversity and inclusion specialists, Symmetra, have developed the unprecedented program offered to lawyers and legal practices via face-to-face workshops, train-the-trainer modules, and online courses. The CPD accredited workshops include an interactive exploration of…
President’s Welcome to Law Summer School 2017
[vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text] Welcome by Alain Musikanth, President of the Law Society of Western Australia, at the Opening of Law Summer School 2017, The University Club, Friday, 17 February 2017 Good morning ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to Law Summer School 2017. I would like to begin by respectfully acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the land on…
Law Society calls upon candidates to pledge their support for legal assistance
The Law Society of Western Australia is calling upon all candidates in the upcoming State election to make a public pledge to adequately fund legal assistance in Western Australia. Candidates in the March election will be invited to make a commitment to the provision of an initial $8 million funding boost to legal assistance, and…
Law Council welcomes appointment of Dr James Renwick SC to vital security watchdog role
The Law Council of Australia has applauded the appointment of prominent jurist Dr James Renwick SC as Australia’s acting Independent National Security Legislation Monitor (INSLM). Law Council of Australia President, Fiona McLeod SC, said the appointment was an extremely important one. “The work of the INSLM is absolutely pivotal to Australia’s national security and its…
Legal profession launching unprecedented national initiative to counter unconscious bias
The Law Council of Australia is launching a major new program to help lawyers understand and address unconscious bias. The Law Council has been working with diversity and inclusion specialists, Symmetra, to construct an unconscious bias program customised for the legal profession. It will be offered to all lawyers and legal practices via face-to-face workshops,…
Same-Sex Marriage Bill report strikes balance between freedom of religion and freedom from discrimination
The Law Council today said the consensus Parliamentary report into the Government’s Same-Sex Marriage Bill strikes a good balance between freedom of religion and freedom from discrimination and called on Parliament to progress the report’s findings. The Select Committee on the Exposure Draft of the Marriage Amendment (Same-Sex Marriage) Bill reached agreement on key issues,…
Mandatory sentencing undermining firearms trafficking bill
Including mandatory sentencing in the Federal Government’s firearms trafficking bill could lead to unjust punishments and unintended consequences. The Criminal Code Amendment (Firearms Trafficking) Bill 2016, being debated in the Senate today, includes a mandatory minimum sentence of five years imprisonment for those found guilty of trafficking illegal firearms. The Law Council of Australia is…
Australia takes historic step to help prevent torture
Australia has taken a positive and historic step today in the campaign to end torture, through the announcement by the Attorney-General and Minister for Foreign Affairs that the Government will ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (OPCAT). OPCAT is designed to strengthen the protection of persons deprived of their liberty against torture…
Response to Consultation Paper: Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Regime
In October 2016, the Law Society was informed by the Law Council of Australia that the Federal Government had embarked on a major project in relation to all aspects of Anti-Money Laundering (AML)/Counter-Terrorism Financing (CTF) regulation. One part of that project involves the very real possibility of the application of the full AML/CTF regime to…
National Security Watchdog Recommends Repeal of ASIO Questioning and Detention Powers
The Australian legal profession is calling on the Federal Government to adopt key recommendations of the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor (INSLM), which has called for the repeal of ASIO’s Questioning and Detention Warrant (QDW) powers. The INSLM report, tabled in Parliament today, included a number of recommendations which closely align with those made by…
Australia’s contribution to the Abolition of the Death Penalty Symposium
On 3 February 2017, the Law Council convened a national Symposium in Melbourne to discuss how government, the legal profession and others can effectively contribute to the abolition of the death penalty overseas. Ministers, shadow ministers, members of Parliament, government officials from a range of countries, lawyers and community organisations all contributed to the event…
