Inbrief

Legislation to note: Federal Magistrates Court (Bankruptcy) Amendment Rules 2008 (No.1)

The Federal Magistrates Court (Bankruptcy) Amendment Rules 2008 (No.1) has been added to the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments. These Rules amend the Federal Magistrates Court (Bankruptcy)...

Papers to note: Curtin University report on violence and mental health

A Population Based Study Examining the Impact of Interpersonal Violence Victimisation on Mental Health is a report prepared for the Criminology Research Council by two researchers at Curtin...

Acting judge of NSW Supreme Court

The Hon Rex Smart QC has been reappointed as an acting�judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales for the period commencing on 20 March 2008 and expiring on 19 March 2009.

20 March 2008

Attorney announces Court of Appeal President

NSW Attorney General John Hatzistergos has announced that the Hon Justice James Allsop will be the next president of the Court of Appeal. View the attorney's media release>

20 March 2008

Wanted: IR practitioner for ABV project in Cambodia

Australian Business Volunteers is currently seeking an experienced volunteer with a background in IR law and arbitration to work with�their client in Cambodia.� ABV is an AusAID funded...

East India Company is out of time

The House of Lords has begun a legislative spring clean by removing "meaningless and defunct laws" from the statute book. Leading the debate Lord Bach said:"The removal of these redundant and...

Correction: Legal Aid Selection Committees

On 29 February 2008 In Brief published an article that sought nominations for, among other things, the Legal Aid Commission's Practitioner Panel. That article was incorrect.

The Legal Aid Commission...

Policy and lawmaking: How is it done, and how to be involved?

Law Week 2008 will be held on 30 March - 5 April.�One of�the many events taking place across the state is a seminar on policy and lawmaking. Policy experts from the�NSW Attorney...

No new insurers for NSW workers compensation scheme

The NSW Government has announced that new specialised workers compensation insurers would not be permitted entry to the state's workers compensation system. NSW Industrial Relations Minister John...

Supreme Court issues revised Professional Negligence List Practice Note

The chief justice, the Hon J J Spigelman AC, issued a revised�Practice Note SC CL 7 (Professional Negligence List) on 17 March 2008.�The revised Practice Note commences on Monday, 31 March...

Liberal MP introduces Bill for an independent reviewer of terrorism laws

Liberal backbencher Petro Georgiou MP has introduced a private members Bill for the appointment of an independent reviewer of terrorism laws, whose responsibility it would be to conduct an "ongoing...

Speeches to note: 2008 McPherson Lectures, delivered by Spigelman CJ

Between 10 and 12 March, the chief justice of New South Wales, the Hon JJ Spigelman AC delivered three lectures on statutory interpretation and human rights at the University of Queensland.

The...

NZ Bar Association International Conference coming to Sydney

The 2008 New Zealand Bar Association Annual Conference will be held in Sydney this year.�This is the NZ Bar Association’s first international conference.�The weekend planned is Friday...

Reminder - New Zealand chief justice delivers 2008 Maurice Byers Address, 5.30pm today

The 2008 Maurice Byers Address will be delivered by the Right Honourable Dame Sian Elias�this afternoon�****at 5:30pm in the Bar Association Common Room.

**About the lecturer

**She...

Cases selected for reporting in the CLR and FCR

The following case has been�selected by J D Merralls QC and will be published in a forthcoming volume of CLR:

Channel 7 Adelaide P/L v Manock [2007] HCA 60

Cases selected for reporting in FCR... Read more >

Papers to note: National Deaths in Custody Program Annual Report

The Australian Institute of Criminology has�published its annual report on the National Deaths in Custody Program (NDICP), which�monitors the circumstances of all deaths in prison and...

Position vacant: Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission

Commonwealth Attorney-General Robert McClelland seeks expressions of interest, or nominations of suitable persons for appointment to, the statutory position of president of the Human Rights and Equal...

Yoga classes start on 28 April

Yoga classes for Bar Association members start on�28 April 2008. **Classes are held in the Common Room **AND�ALSO on Level 13 (Judges Dining Room), Supreme Court Building. Classes are run...

A Charter of Rights: A reply from the president to the NSW attorney general, The Australian, 14 March

Freedom of speech is cherished by Australians and championed by the media.� However, the right to free speech, like most other human rights, does not appear in the Australian Constitution and...

NSW AG calls for harmonisation of anti-discrimination laws

NSW Attorney General John Hatzistergos has asked the Commonwealth to consider the harmonisation of respective anti-discrimination laws. "I am concerned that NSW residents and businesses have to...

Position vacant: deputy senior crown prosecutor

Expressions of interest are sought for the position of deputy senior crown prosecutor, Pos No. 2008/20. The total remuneration package is�valued at up to $271,449 pa, including salary of...

Comments on the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Amendment Bill 2008

The Law Council has released�a briefing paper�on the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Amendment�Bill 2008. The Law Council believes that the proposed amendments relating to...

Bob Bellear honoured at Bar Association function

Philanthropy

Yesterday evening, more than 60 members and guests, including Kaye Bellear and her family, gathered in the Common Room for the unveiling of a photograph of Bob Bellear, the first...

The Hon John Clarke QC to head Haneef inquiry

Commonwealth Attorney-General Robert McClelland has�announced that�former NSW Supreme Court judge the Hon John Clarke QC will head a judicial inquiry into the case of Dr Mohamed Haneef....

Local Court sittings during the Local Court Annual Conference

The Local Court has released the special sitting arrangements during the Local Court Annual Conference, to be held on Wednesday, 2 July to Friday, 4 July 2008. The following sitting arrangements will...