Inbrief

Appointment of crown prosecutor

Mr Christopher Bradley Simpson has been appointed�as a crown prosecutor for the period commencing on 9 October 2008 and expiring on 8 October 2015.

15 October 2008

Senate reports on federal same-sex relationships legislation

The Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs has tabled reports on the Same-Sex Relationships (Equal Treatment in Commonwealth Laws - General Law Reform) Bill 2008 and the ...

Reminder: Seventh Annual Supreme Court Concert

This Monday, 20 October, please join us for the Seventh Annual Supreme Court Concert and a chance to hear beautiful music and some truly outstanding performers. Learn more >

15 October 2008

New Supreme Court Practice Note for Corporations List procedures

Chief Justice J J Spigelman AC has�issued an amended version of Practice Note SC Eq 4 (Corporations List) today.�The revised Practice Note commences operation on **Friday, 17 October 2008....

Female Bar Readers Welcome & Networking Lunch

The Women Lawyers Association of NSW invites you to join them, along�with the Hon Justice Jane Mathews AO and distinguished guests, for the Female Bar Readers Welcome & Networking Lunch. The...

Supreme Court (Corporations) Amendment (No 9) Rules 2008

The Supreme Court (Corporations) Amendment (No9) Rules�2008 have been approved by the Supreme Court Rules Committee. The object of these Rules, as provided by the explanatory note,�is to...

Recent House of Lords decisions

The following opinions of the lords of appeal are available on the House of Lords web site:

Van Colle (administrator of the estate of GC (deceased)) and another (Original-Respondents and...

Reinstate Racial Discrimination Act in NT, Law Council urges

The Law Council has welcomed a report which recommends that government actions affecting Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory must conform to the Racial Discrimination Act. Law Council...

New CCTV facilities for Penrith Courthouse

New closed circuit television (CCTV) facilities have been installed in Penrith Courthouse, NSW Attorney General John Hatzistergos announced today. Two large plasma television monitors have been...

Legislation to note: cross-border insolvency rules take effect tomorrow

The Federal Court (Corporations) Amendment Rules 2008 (No 2) were registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments�today, 14 October 2008 and will commence on 15 October...

Income tax returns: a notice from the Australian Tax Office

The Australian Tax Office has issued a gentle�reminder to members�of the legal profession to lodge 2007-08 income tax returns by the due date. If you have a tax agent, generally, you will...

Reminder: book launch of Rediscovering Rhetoric

All members are�welcome to attend the launch of�Rediscovering Rhetoric: Law, Language, and the Practice of Persuasion, edited by JT Gleeson SC and Ruth CA Higgins. The book, which�is...

Webwatch: new government sponsored ADR web site

The Australian Government established the National Alternative Dispute Resolution Advisory Council as an independent body responsible for providing policy advice to the Commonwealth...

Webwatch: Yearbook of the United Nations

The Yearbook of the United Nations is now available for free online. All 59 volumes (1946-2005) that have been published are available in the new website.�The volumes are available to browse or...

Amendment of the Constitution of the New South Wales Bar Association

The Bar Council proposes a number of amendments to Constitution of the New South Wales Bar Association. The purpose of these amendments is to:

• update references to the Corporations Act 2001 and...

Reminder: nominations for Bar Council

Members are reminded that nominations for the 2009 Bar Council must be received by the returning officer by 4.00pm on Monday, 20 October 2008. Nomination forms have been posted to all members.�...

Tonight: 2008 senior counsel presentation ceremony

Newly appointed senior counsel will be presented with their appointment scrolls tonight, at 5.00pm in the Bar Association’s Common Room, with the scrolls being presented by Chief Justice...

UK Parliament committee rejects extension of pre-charge detention

The Westminster Parliament's Joint Committee on Human Rights has�rejected key provisions of the British Government's�latest Counter-Terrorism Bill and�called on the government to...

Qarase and Others v Bainimarama and Others

Earlier this year, the ousted prime minister of Fiji, Laisenia Qarase, engaged Nye Perram SC (as he then was) and Rachel Pepper pro bono to appear before that nation’s High Court to challenge...

Victorian barrister appointed Tax Office special counsel

Tax Commissioner Michael D’Ascenzo�yesterday announced the appointment of Terry Murphy SC as special counsel for 2009, commencing 1 December 2008. Mr Murphy SC has practiced at the...

Women Barristers invite you to a celebration

The Women Barristers Forum and the Women Lawyers Association invite�members to join�them for cocktails at� the Moonshadow Grille on 6 November�to celebrate the appointment of...

Cases selected for reporting in the Australian Law Reports (LexisNexis)

The Australian Law Reports reports�decisions of the High Court, the Federal Court and other courts throughout Australia in significant federal matters. Part 4 of 248 ALR includes: Copyright...

Robes and things for Fiji

On a recent visit to Fiji, Peter Maiden SC�was asked for assistance in providing robes, wigs�and textbooks to young members of the legal profession in that country. For further information,...

Term 4 yoga classes begin next week

Term 4 yoga classes begin on Tuesday, 14 October and finish on Tuesday, 16 December. The cost for a full term is $150 (paid in advance). Partial term bookings are accepted at $15 per class pro-rata...

Decrease in interest on unpaid legal costs

At its meeting on 7 October 2008, the Reserve Bank Board decided to decrease the cash rate by 100 basis points to 6.0%, effective�8 October 2008. Accordingly the rate of interest on unpaid legal...