The New South Wales Society of Labor Lawyers has lodged a submission with the Senate Standing Committees on Economics’ inquiry into the unlawful underpayment of employees’ remuneration.

In the submission, the Society calls for significant reform to address the widespread and endemic incidence of underpayments in the Australian economy. The headline recommendation is a financial year audit, to be conducted by companies with over 100 employees, of their compliance with industrial instruments. The Society said:

Seminar papers from the Society's recent CLE seminar, "Termination of Enterprise Agreements - The New Fair Work Battle?" are now available online. To download the seminar papers, please visit the following links: 

1. Adam Walkaden, National Legal Officer at the CFMMEU
2. Philip Boncardo, Barrister at Wardell Chambers

The Australian Law Reform Commission has released its much-anticipated final report on class actions and third party litigation funders. A copy of the report is available online here. The Society provided a submission advocating for a number of reforms to provide greater access to justice for plaintiffs utilising the class action procedure. A copy of the submission is available here.

On 29 November 2019 NSW Labor Lawyers hosted its fourth annual dinner at Bodhi Restaurant, Sydney. Members and supporters heard from Dr Anne Aly MP, the Member for Cowan, Paul Lynch MP, the NSW Shadow Attorney-General, and the 2019 Legal Tweaks editor Kieran Fitzgerald. A transcript of the dinner is no available - click here for access.

On 8 October 2019 NSW Labor Lawyers held their Annual Frank Walker Lecture in celebration of the life and achievements of the late Frank Walker QC, the Society's founder and former Attorney-General of New South Wales.

An excerpt of the lecture is available on the ABC's Speaking Out program and a full transcript can be downloaded by clicking here.

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.