The Voice Referendum
President's Message | 16 October 2023
President's Message | 16 October 2023
The Law Society acknowledges the clear decision of the Australian people expressed on Saturday in the Voice referendum.
The debate over the past 12 months has raised many difficult issues, and has no doubt been the source of considerable distress for many people.
I want to express my support, particularly for Indigenous members of the Law Society, as well as all the members of our Indigenous Issues Committee.
Irrespective of the result, the Law Society will continue its advocacy, in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities, in pursuit of better outcomes and a more just legal system for the first peoples of Australia.
Help is just a call away
The Referendum and recent international events have resulted in stressful and emotional times for many people in our communities.
I want to take this opportunity to remind members of the Solicitor Outreach Service, which is available to all solicitors in NSW.
You can access 24/7 telephone crisis counselling with a psychologist and up to three free psychology counselling sessions per financial year. For more information, please visit the Solicitor Outreach Service (SOS).
You can read the Law Council of Australia’s media statement on the Middle East conflict here.
Three decades on the bench to echo through history
Earlier today, I was honoured to attend the High Court in Canberra for a farewell ceremony for the 13th Chief Justice of Australia, Susan Kiefel AC.
Her Honour leaves the High Court after five years as Chief Justice, having led the court since 2017. She joined the Hight Court after being elevated from the Supreme Court of Queensland in 2007, where she’d served since 1993.
Australia has been fortunate indeed to have had the benefit of Justice Kiefel’s immense legal talent. Her time on the bench has included significant contributions to shaping the common law of this nation.
Last week, I also had the honour of witnessing the appointment of this year’s cohort of Senior Counsel in two ceremonies, in the Federal Court of Australia and Supreme Court of NSW.
I wish this new batch (or is the correct collective noun a ‘skein’?) of silks all the best for this next stage of their career. Perhaps one, or even more of them, might end up a distant successor to Justice Kiefel.
You can access 24/7 telephone crisis counselling with a psychologist and up to three free psychology counselling sessions per financial year. For more information, please visit the Solicitor Outreach Service (SOS).
You can read the Law Council of Australia’s media statement on the Middle East conflict here.
Three decades on the bench to echo through history
Earlier today, I was honoured to attend the High Court in Canberra for a farewell ceremony for the 13th Chief Justice of Australia, Susan Kiefel AC.
Her Honour leaves the High Court after five years as Chief Justice, having led the court since 2017. She joined the Hight Court after being elevated from the Supreme Court of Queensland in 2007, where she’d served since 1993.
Australia has been fortunate indeed to have had the benefit of Justice Kiefel’s immense legal talent. Her time on the bench has included significant contributions to shaping the common law of this nation.
Last week, I also had the honour of witnessing the appointment of this year’s cohort of Senior Counsel in two ceremonies, in the Federal Court of Australia and Supreme Court of NSW.
I wish this new batch (or is the correct collective noun a ‘skein’?) of silks all the best for this next stage of their career. Perhaps one, or even more of them, might end up a distant successor to Justice Kiefel.
