Lessons Learned from the Gunns 20 Litigation (ADVERTISEMENT)

19/07/2013

An invitation is extended to all Bar Association members and friends of Environment and Planning Law Association to attend a special information forum "Access to Justice and the Right to Public Participation: Lessons Learned from the Gunns 20 Litigation", to be held on 31 July 2013, 5.30pm-7.30pm at the Reserve Bank Building, Level 20, 65 Martin Place.

In 2004, The Wilderness Society, a number of other environmental activists and other interested persons in Tasmania were served with a multi-million dollar claim for compensation resulting from an alleged conspiracy to interfere with the business interests of Gunns Limited. The events that unfolded, until the discontinuance of proceedings in 2010, are the subject of a documentary being produced by Ms Heidi Douglas, a former defendant.

The case raises numerous cutting-edge issues for environmental justice, human rights, procedural fairness and ethical duties of corporate entities and the legal profession. The Environment and Planning Law Association NSW (EPLA), together with Sustainable Business Australia (SBA), is hosting this special information forum. The evening's speakers include one of the case’s pro-bono advocates, Mr Julian Burnside AO QC; filmmaker and defendant number 5, Ms Heidi Douglas; and via videolink the ‘father of SLAPP suits’, Professor George Pring who coined the term ‘SLAPP suits’.

Following the formal part of the session, there will be an opportunity to ask questions of the expert panel which, in addition to our speakers, will include Pepe Clarke, Executive Director of the Nature Conservation Council of NSW, and Dr Gerry Bates, a leading environmental academic and former Tasmanian MP and Ian Hemmings, Martin Place Chambers, President of EPLA (NSW) Inc.

Light refreshments will be served at the conclusion of the information forum.

Cost: **Members of EPLA/SBA: $44.00; Non-Members: $55; Students, Councils and Government Employees: Free **RSVP: Michele Kearns by Monday, 29 July 2013 at (02) 8227 9600 or kearns@mpchambers.net.au

Numbers are limited: Please email credit card details or eft payment to EPLA (NSW) Inc BSB 0820 Acct 60800 0981.

This is a CLE event and practitioners can claim 2 CLE points for attendance.

The forum includes a promotion of the film about the Gunns 20 case, produced by Ms Heidi Douglas. If attendees wish to support this project, information and facilities will be available on the night.

23�July 2013

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