Inbrief

Web update: European legislation online

Is the right to a fair trial enshrined in the constitution of Belarus? Legislationline.org can tell you. It is a free database produced by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe...

New division of Mental Health Review Tribunal to oversee release of forensic patients

A specialist division of the Mental Health Review Tribunal will be established to oversee the release of forensic patients. Decisions on the release of forensic patients – formerly the...

Room to grow in Lockhart Chambers

In 2005 the board of Counsel's Chambers Limited (CCL) reviewed its use of floorspace in Lockhart Chambers. Faced with high demand from its shareholders' floors for additional space to establish...

Tonight: General Meeting of the Bar

A general meeting of the Bar will take place tonight at 5.15pm in the Common Room to discuss the proposed changes to Barristers’ Rules concerning cross-examination. In accordance with the...

Legislation to note: amendment to the Local Government Act 1993

The NSW Government has introduced the Local Government Amendment (Elections) Bill 2008. The object of this Bill, as�stated in the explanatory notes,�is to amend the Local Government Act...

LawAccess receiving 900 calls per day

On 3 April 2008 Attorney General John Hatzistergos was asked a Dorothy Dixer about LawAccess NSW, the free legal assistance and advice service. The attorney told the Legislative Council that: "Demand...

Federal Court of Australia - Revocation of Practice Note No 20

On 2 April 2008 the chief justice of the Federal Court�revoked Practice Note No 20: Guidelines - Disclosure by Insolvency Practitioners of Fees to be Charged, which�was issued on 18...

Federal Court Tax List directions: notice to practitioners and litigants

The Federal Court of Australia has issued a notice to practitioners and litigants setting out revised arrangements for the management of tax cases. These will be coordinated regionally, within a...

All eyes on Adelaide as curtain comes up on family law conference

A celebrity lawyer, a Canadian Superior Court judge and a Johns Hopkins University professor are just some of the keynote speakers set to address about 1000 lawyers from across Australia this week as...

Justice Boland appointed to the Industrial Relations Commission

The�Honourable Justice Boland has been appointed�as president of the Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales, commencing on and from 9 April 2008.

4 April 2008

Strata Management Legislation Amendment Bill 2008: call for submissions

A consultation draft of the Strata Management Legislation Amendment Bill 2008 has been released, proposing changes to the Strata Schemes Management Act 1996 and the Home Building Act 1989.

According...

Law reform gets a mention at the Australia 2020 Summit

Constitutional reform and appointments to the judiciary and federal-state relations are some of the legal issues that have made it on to the governance agenda for the prime minister's Australia 2020...

National review of occupational health and safety laws

The Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, the Hon Julia Gillard MP, has announced a national review into model Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Laws.� The panel has been asked to...

Legal practitioners’ scale of costs

The High Court, Federal Court, Family Court and Federal Magistrates Court have established a Joint Advisory Committee (JCAC) to inquire into, and make recommendations on, any variations in the...

Goodlife Health Club waive joining fee for Bar Association members

The Goodlife Health Club at No.1 Martin Place have an exclusive offer for members of the Bar Association. Join before April 30 2008 and the joining fee will be waived (saving $250) and your first two...

Legislation to note: Criminal Case Conferencing Trial Bill 2008

The Criminal Case Conferencing Triall Bill 2008 has been introduced into the Legislative Council. The object of the Bill, as provided in the explanatory notes is to provide for a trial scheme of...

Bar Council business for March 2008

Governance

Matters�reported elsewhere in In Brief are omitted from this summary of Bar Council business. Bar Council regularly considers requests by the attorney general, the courts and other...

Upcoming events hosted by the Society of Trust and Estate Planning Practitioners (STEP)

Members of the Bar Association are invited to the following events, organised by the Society of Trust and Estate Planning Practitioners (STEP).

STEP Address, by Dr John de Groot: "Recent Family...

Question time in parliament: autopsies

Attorney General John Hatzistergos has been asked during question time in the Legislative Council about long delays in completing autopsies at the Glebe Institute of Forensic Medicine and the...

Ceremonial sitting for the opening of Sydney West Trials Courts

On Monday, 31 March 2008�Judge Ellis of the Dictrict Court sat in a ceremonial sitting with�three other judges of the District Court, together with Hon Justice Whealy, to mark the inaugural...

Papers to note: Diverting mentally disordered offenders in the NSW Local Court

Section 32 of the Mental Health (Criminal Procedure) Act 1990 enables magistrates in summary proceedings to divert offenders from the criminal justice system and dismiss their charges either...

Refurbishment of Parramatta Local Court

The planned refurbishment of Parramatta Local Court�will commence in July 2008. As a result, alternative listing arrangements are necessary. Effective Monday, 7 July 2008, the following...

New South Wales Government reducing discounts for guilty pleas

The NSW Government will introduce new legislation to restrict discounts offered to defendants in return for guilty pleas. Under the legislation introduced into the parliament today, defendants will...

Federalism under the microscope in Brisbane

Brisbane will play host in July to an international panel of experts to discuss the major challenges and opportunities for federal systems around the world. Under the patronage of the Hon Sir Gerard...

2008 Bench and Bar Dinner invitation - RSVPs close today

The president and Bar Council have the pleasure of inviting all members of the New South Wales Bar Association and the judiciary to the 2008 Bench and Bar Dinner. The guest of honour is the Hon...