On 11 September 2019 the Society was pleased to host Susan Ryan AO, who in conversation with NSW Labor Deputy Leader Yasmin Catley MP discussed the legacy of the Hawke Government's law reform achievements. At the commencement of the event Ms Ryan delivered some introductory remarks on the major law reform achievements of the Hawke Government.

A copy of Ms Ryan's introductory remarks is available here.

The NSW Society of Labor Lawyers, the peak association for progressive lawyers who support the labour movement in New South Wales, has delivered an open letter to NSW Labor Members of Parliament in support of decriminalising abortion in New South Wales.

In the letter, the Society urges all NSW Labor MPs to support the passage of the Reproductive Health Care Reform Bill 2019 in the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council, which will be debated from Tuesday. The Bill would repeal provisions of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) and create a new system for medical supervision of abortions in New South Wales.

Download a copy of the letter to State Labor MPs.

In address to the 2018 Annual Dinner of NSW Labor Lawyers, the Hon. Diana Bryant AO QC, former Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia, has said that the government’s proposed reforms to family law, if implemented, will likely lead to “significant downgrading of the importance of family law and how it is delivered in Australia”. A full copy of the speech is available here.

The Society has been quoted extensively in the final report of the Legislation Review Committee for their inquiry into the operation of the Legislation Review Act 1987 (NSW). The Society advocated for the introduction of comprehensive human rights legislation in New South Wales and greater scrutiny of new statutes in line with human rights principles.

Download a copy of the Committee's Final Report here.

On 1 September 2018 the NSW Shadow Attorney-General delivered a speech to the 11th Annual Fundraising Dinner for Toongabbie Legal Centre at Bowman Hall, Blacktown, on access to justice in New South Wales. A copy of the speech is now available online. To download the speech, click here.

The Society has lodged a submission to the Australian Law Reform Commission's Inquiry into Class Action Proceedings and Third Party Litigation Funding. To view the submission, click here.

The NSW Society of Labor Lawyers recently provided evidence on 21 May 2018 to the Legislation Review Committee's Inquiry into the Operation of the Legislation Review Act. The Society reaffirmed its commitment to the introduction of comprehensive human rights legislation in New South Wales and called for significant reform to the current process for legislative scrutiny in NSW, including by way of adoption of statements of compatability for each new bill.

The Hansard transcript of proceedings before the Legislation Review Committee is available online here. The Society's evidence is at pages 31 to 35.

"But I also understand what Frank told me so many years ago - that the reforms worth losing skin over, the ones that promote fairness and equity and go to the core of Labor values, will come under constant attack. In a sense, it is an incredibly long game - because there is no end to that contest - it goes on and on." - Bruce Hawker

On 15 May 2018 Bruce Hawker delivered the fourth Annual Frank Walker Lecture on the topic "Populists, Demagogues and Celebrities - Challenges for Progressive Campaigning in the Age of Trump". A copy of the address can now be accessed online by clicking here.

On 15 March 2018 NSW Labor Lawyers hosted a CPD presented by David Ralph, Professor of Media and Defamation Law at the University of Sydney. The topic was "The intersection of privilege, contempt and defamation in the Australian parliamentary system". Materials from the presentation are now available online.