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Legal Aid News Issue 17 << Back to index Keeping up with family law Keynote speaker, President of the Anti-Discrimination Board Chris Puplick makes an impassioned speech. The NSW Law society and Legal Aid join together to explore family law issues With family law evolving as rapidly as it does, lawyers face the constant challenge of keeping up with changes as they also maintain very busy practices. One very effective way of putting lawyers in touch with all these changes is by attracting a large number from all around New South Wales and giving them the opportunity to listen to a group of experts over two intensive days. This practice works really well and is commonly known as the annual family conference organised by Legal Aid. The variation this year was that the conference became a joint effort held in partnership with the Family Law Specialist Acreditation Committee of the NSW Law Society. Although locked into one room for two days (one being a Saturday), participants were greatly compensated by savouring the gorgeous surrounds of the Merchant Court Hotel, part of the new Grace Brothers complex in Sydney. A total of 120 private lawyers and 55 legal aid lawyers listened to expert insight and analysis on topics including superannuation, child support, property, relocation and child welfare, and the enforcement of contact orders. One of the most debated issues was whether the law in relation to representation of children needs to be reformed. Setting the tone for change was keynote speaker and President of the Anti-Discrimination Board Chris Puplick, who spoke passionately about the recognition of same sex relationships. "Laws continue to discriminate directly against people living in same sex relationships in all areas of public life including employment, adoption, care of children, taxation and superannuation," he said. "The fact that we have no Bill of Rights or Charter of Rights leaves Australia in a unique position and until we have that, our courts and judicial system have no framework within which to interpret the law." He quoted many cases of court interpretations in the light of the changing face of the Australian family, and in order to help bring about change, encouraged participation in the Law Reform Commission's current review of the Property (Relationships) Act 1984, looking at property in relation to de facto and same sex couples. The speakers were of high calibre and gave excellent presentations, including Judith Walker of the Legal Aid Commission on child representation. This initial joint venture was a great success and hopefully will be repeated in the future. Anybody wishing to obtain papers from the conference can email: katica.trajkovski@legalaid.nsw.gov.au To participate in the Law Reform Commission review telephone 02 9228 8230. Lto R: Norman O'Dowd (ex-Legal Aid, now in private practice), Judith Walker (Legal Aid), Neil Jameison (private lawyer), Stephen Bourke (Commonwealth Attorney-General's Department). Legal Aid's Family Law director, Kim Cull, is joined by (L) Professor Reg Graycar and (R) District Court Judge Anne Ainslee Wallace. L to R: Dinh Tran (ex-Legal Aid, now Acting Family Court Registrar) reunites with colleagues from Legal Aid – Kate Escobar, Michael Davis and Kim Cull. |
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