|
In this
Issue:
Religious Vilification Matter Settles<=
o:p>
PILCH
News & Events
Not-for-Profit Legal Service
PILCH Scheme
Law
Institute of Victoria Legal Assistance Scheme
Victorian Bar Legal Assistance Scheme<=
o:p>
Homeless Persons’ Legal Clinic Photographic
Exhibition
Innovations
in Pro Bono
&nbs=
p;
|
Religious vilification matter between I=
slamic
Council of Victoria
and Catch the Fire Ministries settles
On Friday 22 June 2007, the Islamic Council of
Victoria Inc (Islamic Council) and
Catch the Fire Ministries Inc issued a joint statement announcing they had
reached a settlement in their religious vilification dispute. The settlem=
ent
marks the end of a five year dispute over what type of behaviour or condu=
ct
constitutes vilification under Victoria’s
Racial and Religious Tolerance Ac=
t 2001
(the Act).=
|
The
Public Interest Law Clearing House (Vic) Inc (‘PILCH’) is a
non-profit, independent legal referral service with a network of members
which represents the diversity of the legal profession. PILCH’s pri=
mary
role is to coordinate the provision of pro bono (without fee) legal
assistance. It does so through four pro bono programs, the Public Interest
Law Scheme, the Victorian Bar Legal Assistance Scheme (‘VBLAS’=
;),
the Law Institute of Victoria Legal Assistance Scheme (‘LIVLAS̵=
7;)
and the Homeless Persons’ Legal Clinic (‘HPLC’). PILCH =
also
engages in targeted law reform and advocacy work, and provides community
education and professional training.
PILCH Matters is direct=
ed to
its members, to the broader legal and allied services communities, and
interested members of the public.
|
|
The
proceeding was instituted by a complaint by the Islamic Council against C=
atch
the Fire Ministries, Pastor Nallihah and Pastor Scot, alleging they had
engaged in behaviour which contravened the Act. The conduct consisted of
statements made by Pastor Scot at a seminar hosted by Catch the Fire
Ministries in March 2002, an article in Catch the Fire Ministries’
newsletter (authored by Pastor Daniel Nal=
liah)
and the publication of an article on its website about Muslims and
Islam. The Islamic Council
contended that the conduct of the pastors and Catch the Fire Ministries
incited hatred against, serious contempt for, or revulsion or severe ridi=
cule
of the Islamic faith. On the basis of that conduct the Islamic Council fi=
led
a complaint with the Equal Opportunity Commission Victoria (EOCV) pursuant to the Act.=
The Islamic Council applied to PILCH for pro bono
representation in 2002, in relation to their complaint. PILCH accepted the
Islamic Council’s request on the basis that the issue of religious
vilification was of broad concern, particularly given the political clima=
te
at the time post September 11, and that, as the first case of its kind to=
be
brought under the Act, a decision would clarify the interpretation,
application and parameters of the Act. PILCH initially referred the matte=
r to
Brind Zichy-Woinarski QC and Debbie Mortimer SC of counsel for merits adv=
ice.
As well as providing the initial advice sought both counsel agreed to act=
for
the Islamic Council and PILCH referred the matter to Allens Arthur Robins=
on
to instruct. Kamal Farouque was retained as junior counsel and after Kamal
left the Bar, Hamish Redd of counsel became involved. <=
/p>
The matt=
er was
referred by the EOCV to the Victorian Civil Administrative Tribunal (the Tribunal) and was listed fo=
r a 4
day hearing. Ultimately, the proceedings were heard over 35 hearing days =
from
October 2003 - May 2005.
&nb=
sp;
In Decem=
ber
2004, the Tribunal handed down its decision in favour of the Islamic Coun=
cil.
The Tribunal found that Catch the Fire Ministries, along with Pastors Nal=
liah
and Scot, contravened the Act on the basis that their
‘unbalanced’ discussion would have caused an ordinary, reason=
able
reader to understand that he or she was being incited to feel hatred towa=
rds
Muslims. VCAT also found that the seminar organised and conducted by Catch
the Fire Ministries ‘made fun of Muslim beliefs and conduct’ =
and
‘was done not in the context of a serious discussion of MuslimsR=
17;
religious beliefs [but] was presented in a way which is essentially hosti=
le,
demeaning and derogatory of all Muslim people, their God, Allah, the Prop=
het
Mohammed and in general Muslim religious beliefs and practices.’ Ca=
tch
the Fire Ministries and the pastors appealed the Tribunal’s decisio=
n to
the Court of Appeal.
The Court of Appeal disagreed with the
Tribunal’s construction of section 8 of the Act and its treatment of
the evidence. An appeal against the constitutionality of the Act based on=
the
implied freedom of communication was rejected by Justice Nettle. His Hono=
ur
held that a speaker’s motivation is irrelevant to whether a finding=
of
vilification will be made and that hatred needs to be incited as a matter=
of
fact. Justice Nettle also found that the Tribunal should have taken into
account the pastors exhortations to ‘love’ Muslims. The matter
was ultimately remitted to the Victorian Civil Administrative Tribunal fo=
r a
rehearing.
VCAT referred the matter to mediation where the
parties agreed to settle. Although the terms of the settlement have not b=
een
disclosed, both parties in a joint statement affirmed the following:=
- the dignity and worth of every human being, irrespective of t=
heir
religious faith, or the absence of religious faith;
- the rights of each other, their communities, and all persons,=
to
adhere to and express their own religious beliefs and to conduct the=
ir
lives consistently with those beliefs;
- the rights of each other, their communities and all persons,
within the limits provided for by law, to robustly debate religion,
including the right to criticise the religious belief of another, in=
a
free, open and democratic society;
- the value of friendship, respect and co-operation between
Christians, Muslims and all people of other faiths; and
- the Racial and Religious Tolerance Act forms part of the law =
of Victoria =
to which
the rights referred to in paragraph 3 above are subject.<=
/span>
This mat=
ter is
of significance with regard to Victoria’s
racial and religious vilification laws and the interpretation and applica=
tion
of the Act. The case highlights the debate around what some characterise =
as
legitimate inter-faith dialogue and public debate, and others as public
statements intended to instil and encourage fear and hatred of a religion=
and
its followers.
&nb=
sp;
PILCH ar=
e very
grateful for the commitment and outstanding efforts of the solicitors and
barristers involved in running this case. The legal team for the Islamic
Council demonstrated a sustained commitment and dedicated enormous time a=
nd resources
to the case. In particular PILCH would like to thank Brind Zichy-Woinarski QC
and Debbie Mortimer SC and also Cathy Scalzo and Luke Gattuso from Allens
Arthur Robinson.
&nbs=
p;
Tabitha Lovett is the Manager of PILCH’s Public Interest Sch=
eme
which was responsible for co-ordinating the provision of pro bono legal
assistance for the Islamic Council of Victoria.
|
|
Thank
you to all PILCH staff and volunteers who contributed to this edition.
Edited
by Rachel Brown.
|
U=
pcoming
Events
|
Human
Rights Seminars
The Human Rights Law Resource Centre wi=
ll
be running three seminars in August.
Click here for more inf=
ormation
and booking forms (external link).
|
8 August 2024
Freedom
from Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishm=
ent =
with Prof Claudio Grossman, Vice-Chair of the UN Committee Against
Torture
15
August 2007
What
Difference can a Human Rights Charter Make? with Lord
Robert Walker of the House of Lords
13 August
The
Responsibility to Protect: The Evolution of a New International Norm
with
the Hon Gareth Evans AO QC
|
|
No Forwarding Address: Homelessness
Through Our Eyes
Homel=
ess
Persons’ Legal Clinic Photographic Exhibition
5 to 12 August 2024 in the Atriu=
m of
Melbourne's
Federation Square
See
below for m=
ore
information.
|
New PILCH Exec=
utive Director
Appointed
The=
PILCH
Board is very pleased to announce that Kristen Hilton has been appointe=
d as
the new PILCH Executive Director.
Kri=
sten
will be known to many supporters of PILCH as the current Coordinator and
Principal Solicitor of the PILCH Homeless Persons’ Legal Clinic.
Kristen will finish as Coordinator of the HPLC and start as Executive
Director of PILCH in early August 2007.
|
Kristen Hilton and Paula
O’Brien
|
|
Kri=
sten will
replace Paula O’Brien, who has resigned after four years as PILCH
Executive Director to complete her Master of Laws at the University of C=
ambridge
in 2007/2008. I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the
outstanding contribution Paula has made in leading PILCH. Under her
leadership we have continued to strengthen our relationships with the
stakeholders we serve, and to attract staff of the highest calibre. PIL=
CH
is a stronger, more successful and more valued part of the Victorian le=
gal
community because of her contribution and we are all deeply grateful for
what she has given us. We wish her well in her future endeavours and lo=
ok
forward to hearing of her continued success.
The=
Board
selected Kristen for the role of Executive Director after undertaking an
exhaustive external recruitment process. The Board looks forward to Kri=
sten
leading PILCH with the same great skill, vision and commitment to
PILCH’s values which she has demonstrated as Coordinator of the H=
PLC.
David Krasnostein
PILCH
Chair
|
|
The Benchmark=
Whe=
n I
first came to PILCH as a secondee from Allens Arthur Robinson in 2001,
Paula O’Brien was the benchmark against which all other secondees
were measured.
Six=
years
on, Paula leaves PILCH as the benchmark against which all future Execut=
ive
Directors will be measured. I
don’t envy them!
Und=
er
Paula’s leadership, PILCH has established and consolidated a posi=
tion
as one of Austra=
lia’s
leading public interest and human rights law organisations. Over the last two years, in
particular, Paula has been responsible for the development and
implementation of PILCH’s strategic plan, which includes a range =
of
innovative and important projects designed to improve access to justice=
for
people and groups who are poor, disadvantaged or marginalised. These innovations include the
development of a specialist Not-for-Profit Legal Service to provide =
free
legal services to NGOs and the community sector, the expansion of the
services of the PILCH Homeless Persons’ Legal Clinic, and the
proposed establishment of a specialist older persons’ legal
service.
Pau=
la has
been a great leader, teacher and mentor to PILCH staff and volunteers.<=
span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> We will miss our leader and fr=
iend
and wish her all the best in her studies at Cambridge and beyond.
Phil Lynch
Director, Human
Rights Law Resource Centre
|
NAB provides seed funding towards=
the
establishment of the new not-for-profit legal service
We are very pleased to announ=
ce
that NAB (one of our corporate members) has provided a small grant so w=
e can
continue our work on the establishment of the new not-for-profit (NFP)
legal service. We are currently collaborating with Volunteering Victoria
and, with a view to a national roll-out, Volunteering Australia and
Volunteering NSW. We have also held discussions with CPA Australia about
support they may be able to offer in relation to providing relevant
(legally-related) financial information. Our PILCH counterparts in other
States are also being kept in the loop. While a start date is still some
way off, plans are progressing well and we have interest from other key
funders.
In terms of background reading
for those who are interested, our Research Report into the establishmen=
t of
the service (1 May 2024) has now been put on our website. We have also
posted our submission to the review into NFP regulation by the State
Services Authority (28 May 2024). Their report to the Premier and Treas=
urer
is due by 30 September 2024 and we are hopeful that, given the widespre=
ad
support we have garnered from the sector, our members and other key
stakeholders, that they will recommend that government provide support =
for
the proposed 3-year pilot.
In the meantime……=
YOU CAN HELP…..believe =
it or
not, a significant challenge is working out a new name for the service.=
We
need a name that means that the service will be easy to find from a qui=
ck
internet search. Something that is intuitive for those working or
volunteering for a NFP and who think they have a legal problem or who n=
eed
some general legal information. Early suggestions are LACS (Legal
Assistance for the Community Sector) or Law-CO or Law-CS (Law for Commu=
nity
Organisations or Community Sector) - what do you think? There is a
small prize on offer for a winning (ie the most useable) suggestion =
211;
a nice bottle of wine and gourmet biscuits.
Sue
Woodward
PILCH
Policy Officer
9225=
6657
policy.pilch@vicbar.com.au
|
=
|
PILCH
receives many requests for assistance under its Public Interest Law Sch=
eme. Those applications that satisfy
means, legal merit and public interest criteria are able to be referred=
to
PILCH members for pro bono assistance.
The
following summaries, while far from constituting a complete list of eit=
her
referrals or PILCH members who have undertaken referral work, are repor=
ted
to give an indication of the range of individuals and organisations
applying for assistance, the types of assistance they seek, and the var=
iety
of pro bono work undertaken by PILCH members.
PILCH
is very grateful to all its members who have accepted pro bono referral=
s to
assist individuals and not-for-profit organisations.<=
/p>
Case Studies
Freedom of Information
Clayton Utz accepted a referr=
al to
provide pro bono assistance to Lance Marke, an applicant who had been
unsuccessful in a Freedom of Information application against Victoria
Police in a recent VCAT hearing.
Lance Marke, a Detective Sergeant, had sought access to documents
relating to an ESD investigation where allegedly false allegations had =
been
made against him. On the suggestion of Jason Pizer of counsel, Det. Mar=
ke
approached PILCH for assistance to appeal against the decision of the
Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) in Marke v Victoria
Police [2007] VCAT 747. T=
he
appeal is based on VCAT’s construction of the ‘personal aff=
airs
exemption’ in section 33 of the Freedom of Information Act (t=
he
Act), the most frequently claimed exemption to the production of docume=
nts
under the Act.
VCAT held that disclosure of =
the
requested documents would be unreasonable in light of ‘whether it
would be unreasonable to release these documents to the world at large
because the world at large would then know the identity of the person c=
oncerned’. On appeal, Mr Pizer will submi=
t that
VCAT’s current construction of section 33 amounts to a vitiating
error of law. The Act only
stipulates that documents will be disclosed to the applicant, not the w=
orld
at large and the Act does not require VCAT to consider the question of
unreasonableness as if the documents were necessarily disclosed to the
world at large.
If successful, this matter ho=
lds
the potential to affect a significant number of FOI requests in this St=
ate.
Social and Community Enterprise
Brotherhood of St Laurence refer=
ral
to Mallesons Stephens Jaques
Social Enterprises are businesses established =
with
the assistance of a charitable organisation, the profits of which are
reinvested into the community to develop much needed services and
resources. Opportunity
Shops, for example, sell donated items the proceeds of which are put
towards achieving the aims of the charitable organisation.
Recently, The Brotherhood of St Laurence sought
assistance with a pilot project it is developing with funding from the
Department of Victorian Communities, to facilitate the planning and
establishment of community enterprises. The pilot project, involves the
Brotherhood of St Laurence supporting Preston/Reservoir Adult Community
Education, Thornbury Women’s Neighbourhood House and Muslimah Hal=
al
Catering with the business planning process in the setting up of a
Café in Reservoir. The
Café will provide training and employment pathways for vulnerable
communities, access to healthy food, a community “hub” and
ready access to community information.
Mallesons Stephens Jaques has accepted the
referral to provide legal advice to the Brotherhood of St Laurence as to
the most appropriate business structure for the community enterprise. Mallesons Stephens Jaques̵=
7;
advice will provide ongoing guidance for other enterprises planned by t=
he
Brotherhood of St Laurence in the future. PILCH is also planning to hold=
a
seminar later this year for organisers and members of community enterpr=
ises
on the legal issues arising from their establishment and operation.
Elephant Pepper Development Trust
(EPDT) referral to Clayton Utz, Sydney
&=
nbsp;
Elephant Pepper Development Trust (EPDT) is a =
NGO
registered in Africa which has developed an initiative to reduce confli=
ct
between humans and elephants in Africa. Through its work with African
farmers, conservationists with EPDT discovered that elephants are sensi=
tive
to capsaicin, the spicy part of chillies. As chilli peppers can also ser=
ve as
a reliable cash crop, the EPDT developed an approach focusing on traini=
ng
farmers in the production and manufacture of chilli crops and in
establishing a communally owned business based on fair trade practices.=
The
growing business now offers a range of products ranging from a line of
chilli sauces to Elephant Pepper branded items. The chilli peppers therefore s=
erve
not only as a deterrent to elephants, but also result in direct profits=
to
farmers in Africa. EPDT aims to expand the
international market for the Elephant Pepper brand products in order to
raise funds to continue EPDT’s work to promote awareness of eleph=
ant
conservation, increase training programs and assess their
effectiveness. Clayton Utz
Sydney has accepted the referral to advise EPDT regarding the most
appropriate legal structure to adopt in Australia
in order to assist EPDT to accept a “Google Grant” it has b=
een
awarded in Austr=
alia
and collect charitable donations from Australians for the EPDT.
Information about the EPDT can be found at: www.elephantpepper.org
=
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top
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|
The =
Law
Institute of Victoria Legal Assistance Scheme (‘LIV LAS’)
receives many requests for assistance.=
Where the application satisfies a means and legal merits test, a=
nd
the client is ineligible for legal aid, or it inappropriate to refer the
matter to a community legal centre, legal assistance can be provided
through a referral to a solicitor on the LIV LAS register for pro bono
assistance.
|
|
|
LIVLAS Manager Lauren Adamson
<=
/span>
|
Staffing News
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;color:#003366'>LIV LAS is pleased to welcome =
Lauren
Adamson who commenced working at PILCH on 14 May 2024 in the role of LI=
VLAS
Manager. Lauren was a sen=
ior
associate in the litigation department at Lander and Rogers. Lauren is also a member of the=
LIV
Administrative Law and Human Rights Executive Committee, Human Rights
Committee and Indigenous Issues and Reconciliation Committee.
Lau=
ren
looks forward to meeting LIV LAS members and as always we are very grat=
eful
to all members who have accepted pro bono referrals.
|
|
Case Summar=
ies
The
following summaries highlight the type of referral work undertaken by L=
IV members
on behalf of individuals who have applied for assistance. In particular, we have been
approached by a number of people who find themselves at imminent risk of
losing their home as a result of providing financial assistance to their
relatives.
Relative Induced Debt:
Ms =
B is the
fourth defendant to Supreme Court proceedings brought by a bank to enfo=
rce
a number of loan agreements made between the bank and Ms B’s form=
er
husband’s company. =
Ms B
is now separated from her husband.&nbs=
p;
The third named defendant, Mrs C, is Ms B’s mother in
law. The loans were secur=
ed by
mortgages over Ms B’s and Mrs C residential home and other
properties. The debtors d=
efaulted
under the loans placing Ms B’s and Mrs C’s residential home=
at
risk. There are significa=
nt legal
issues surrounding the manner in which the loans were entered into and
secured. Thank-you to Fiona MacRae of law firm Eggleston Mitchell, Doug Shirrefs=
and
Paul Cosgrave SC of Counsel for generously agreeing to represent Ms=
B
and Mrs C in the Supreme Court proceedings. At the time of writing the
matter is still pending.
Ms =
K, a
single mother with limited English was approached by a relative, Mr G, =
who
needed funds for a business. Ms
K did not have any funds available.&nb=
sp;
Mr G arranged a loan agreement between Ms K and the bank secured=
by
a mortgage over Ms K’s residential home. Ms K did not obtain independent
advice. It was agre=
ed
that Ms K’s relative would meet the repayments. However, Mr G defaulted on the
repayments and the bank issued proceedings in the Supreme Court. There are significant legal is=
sues
surrounding the manner in which the loans were entered into and
secured. Thank-you to Fiona MacRae of law firm Eggleston Mitchell, Edward Moon <=
/b>and
Paul Cosgrave SC of Counsel for
generously agreeing to represent Ms K in the Supreme Court
proceedings. At the time =
of
writing the matter is still pending.
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|
|
Victorian Bar Legal Assistance Sche=
me
The Victorian Bar Legal Assistance Scheme (‘VBLAS’) is
now in its sixth year of administration by PILCH and has continued to
develop and improve access to pro bono legal services from barristers.<=
span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> It is now staffed by two part-=
time
solicitor/managers, a part-time solicitor two days per week and two
part-time administrators. Matters referred to barristers continue to co=
ver
diverse areas of law, including family, crime, migration, contract, tru=
sts,
tort, personal injury, TAC, employment, debt recovery, tenancy and
discrimination. However,
following the changes to the Migration Act in December 2005, the
percentage of migration matters has now grown to 70% of all referrals. =
|
|
|
VBLAS/PILCH International Refu=
gee
Day Function - 6 June 2024
Int=
ernational
Refugee Day was marked on 6 June 2024 at a gathering of a group of
committed lawyers who have assisted refugee clients on referral from VB=
LAS
and PILCH over the past year. PILCH member firm Mallesons Stephen Jaques and the Migration Sub-Committee of
VBLAS hosted around 30 guests including barristers, solicitors and a nu=
mber
of dignitaries to afternoon tea. Justice
Tony North of the Federal Court and specialist refugee advocate and
barrister John Gibson both=
gave
informal addresses which reflected on the significance of International
Refugee Day and the work done by pro bono lawyers to assist the plight =
of
asylum seekers in Australia.
|
|
=
=
Case
Summaries
Cou=
nsel Charles Gunst QC and Anthony Lewi=
s
instructed by Kelly Hughes of Mallesons Stephen Jaques had a significant
win in the Federal Court in an asylum seeker matter. The applicant appe=
aled
from the Federal Magistrates Court to the Federal Court with the main
argument that the Refugee Review Tribunal had contravened s424A of the
Migration Act 1958. The applicant, who fears political persecution in h=
is
country of origin, is extremely grateful for the pro bono assistance he
received from both counsel and Kelly Hughes of Mallesons and now has a
second chance to argue his case before the Refugee Review Tribunal=
John Gibson of Counsel was successful in =
the
Federal Magistrates Co=
urt
for an asylum seeker who experienced persecution in an Eastern European
Country because of her ethnicity (Jewish). When she claimed asylum in
Australia, DIMA and the RRT assessed that she was a genuine refugee
however, they believed that her right to stay in Australia depended on
whether she had a right to enter and reside in Israel (under the law of
return) for the purposes of s36(3) of the Migration Act. On appeal to t=
he
Federal Magistrates Court the court decided that the right to reside in=
Israel did not preclude the client from
seeking asylum in Australia.
In =
January
2007 the Scheme received a request from the Coordinator of the Homeless
Person’s Legal Clinic at PILCH to arrange Counsel’s advice =
in
relation to Mr P’s claim against the executor of his
grandmother’s will. Peter Burke of Counsel genero=
usly
agreed to advise the HPLC solicitors from Corrs Chambers Westgarth. Counsel settled the court docu=
ments
which were filed in the Supreme Court.=
An order was subsequently made in favour of Mr P requiring the
executor to distribute the estate in accordance with the will.
=
=
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top
=
|
Homeless
Persons’ Legal Clinic
Photographic Exhibition=
|
|
No Forwarding Address: Homeles=
sness
Through Our Eyes
a powerful photograph=
ic
exhibition capturing life through the eyes of those who have experienced
homelessness, running from 5 to 12 August 2024 in the Atrium of Melbour=
ne's
Federation Square.=
|
By Jim
|
|
In =
the
last PILCH Matters we reported on the initial stages of a photographic
project that the PILCH Homeless Persons' Legal Clinic and its Consumer
Advisory Group has developed in association with the Future Focus Group=
for
the Committee for Melbourne. The project is now in its final stag=
es
and wonderful progress has been made.
&nb=
sp;
Ove=
r the
last four months, eight individuals who have experienced homelessness h=
ave
been working with professional photographer 'mentors' who have encourag=
ed
them to develop the skills and confidence to take photographs that rela=
te
to their life experiences. The artists have each taken a substant=
ial
portfolio of photographs depicting their individual journeys and
stories.
The=
y have
also worked closely with the project's volunteer curator,
Maggie Finch, and other members of the project team to select their
images, develop a narrative and prepare them for public
display.
&nb=
sp;
The
artists' hard work will culminate in a photographic exhibition showcasi=
ng
their creative work. No
Forwarding Address: Homelessness Through Our Eyes will be =
;on
display in the Atrium at Federation
Square from 5-12 August 2007 as a par=
t of
National Homelessness Week. The exhibition has two main aims.&nbs=
p;
It seeks to promote greater understanding of the many causes and
consequences of homelessness, including lack of affordable housing, lac=
k of
access to legal representation, loss of employment, mental health issue=
s,
vulnerability to discrimination and poverty. It also celebrates t=
he
talents and skills of the artists and through their images and stories,
reveals their great strength, resilience and insight. <=
/span>
The
exhibition will be officially launched on Monday 6 August at the BMW Ed=
ge
Auditorium at Federati=
on
Square. Tim Costello of World Vision will =
open
the exhibition and the celebrated Choir of Hard Knocks will perform.
&nb=
sp;
We =
hope
that PILCH Matters readers and Melbourne
people more generally will embrace the exhibition, celebrate =
the achievements
of the artists and seek to understand more about the impact and extent =
of
homelessness and poverty on our society.
In
addition to the exhibition we are developing a selection of free postca=
rds
that will be widely distributed throughout Victoria. The postcards will featu=
re the
artists’ images and will contain information about the HPLC and h=
ow
to access the HPLC’s services.
&nb=
sp;
The=
HPLC
has been greatly assisted in the project by the Future Focus Group of t=
he
Committee of Melbourne. The Future Focus Group is made up of a group of
professionals from various organisations that dedicate their time and
expertise to community projects. The photography project is an
extraordinary example of how the combined efforts and expertise of the
community and corporate sectors can culminate to produce something quite
unique that has enduring benefits.
We =
are very
grateful for the generous assistance of a number of organisations:
Allens Arthur Robinson, ANZ, Australia Post, The Colour Factory, Commit=
tee
For Melbourne, Federat=
ion
Square, Fentons Communications, KPMG,
Maunsells, Metlink, Multiplex, RACV, Rio Tinto and VicUrban. =
We
are also grateful for the guidance and training provided by our highly
skilled mentors, and thank them for the time they have put into th=
is
project.
|
|
For
more information about the exhibition please call
Kristen
Hilton on 9225 6684.
|
By Tanya
|
|
|
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|
&nbs=
p;
Return
to top
<=
/p>
Innovations in Pro Bo=
no
- Award-winning
Pro Bono
National Australia Bank Lawyers Wi=
n Pro
Bono Global Counsel Award
The
Association of Corporate Counsel and the International Law Office named=
NAB
as the winner of the Global Counsel Award for Pro Bono at a ceremony he=
ld
in New York
on June 28.
Dav=
id Krasnostein,
NAB Chief General Counsel and Chair of PILCH and HRLRC, accepted the aw=
ard
on behalf of NAB lawyers. “Giving back to our communities is a co=
re
value of the National Australia Bank. Last year alone our lawyers provi=
ded
some 900 hours of bank-funded volunteer community service to over<=
/o:p>
22
charities and community service organisations and in our Wealth Managem=
ent
legal group, 32 team members over the past year contributed 512 hours of
volunteer work to various charities”, said David.
NAB=
also
make an enormous contribution to pro bono lawyering through their
membership and sponsorship of PILCH and the Human Rights Law Resource
Centre. NAB participates in the Homeless Persons Legal Clinic, and also
recently provided financial support for PILCH to continue to develop
Not-for-Profit Legal Service project. David is a dynamic chair of both
organisations and continually offers excellent support to PILCH and HRL=
RC
staff.
PILCH would like to congratula=
te NAB
on receiving the award and thank it for its outstanding contribution to=
pro
bono.
A4=
ID -
Advocates for International Development
http://www.a4id.org
Congratulations a=
lso
go to A4ID who won Pro Bono Team of the Year at the 2007 Lawyer Awards
which were held in London<=
/st1:place>
on June 26.
A4ID came in to b=
eing
when a group of London
lawyers joined together with Oxfam to
champion the United Nations Millennium Development Goals
following the Asi=
an
Tsunami. A4ID work with a number of development NGOs
providing support and pro bono services across a wide range of projects
including assistance on matters in the areas of debt and finance,
development rights, and trade and investment. In addition to the provis=
ion
of pro bono services, a core aim of the organisation is to enhance the
wider legal community’s knowledge and understanding of issues fac=
ing
the developing world. A4ID was
launched officially in October 2006.
=
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If you
are interested in public interest lawyering and pro bono work, and supp=
ort
the work done by PILCH - for only $20 plus GST per year - you can becom=
e an
official PILCH Supporter.
Being a P=
ILCH
Supporter will ensure that you to receive PILCH publications and an
invitation to upcoming events.
Please
visit our website for more information =
and an
application form.
|
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PILCH
Members
|
&n=
bsp;
|
|
Law Fir=
ms
Aitken Walker & Strachan=
Allens Arthur Robinson
Andrew George Solicitors
Arnold
Bloch Leibler
Arnold<=
span
lang=3DEN-GB style=3D'font-size:7.5pt;color:#003366;mso-ansi-language:E=
N-GB'> Dallas McPher=
son
Baker & McKenzie
Blake Dawson Waldron
Clayton Utz
Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Deacons
Ebsworth & Ebsworth
Francis Abourizk Lightowlers=
Freehills
Herbert Geer & Rundle
Holding Redlich
Hunt & Hunt
Lander & Rogers
Maddocks
Mallesons Stephen Jaques
Middletons
Minter Ellison
Phillips Fox
Robinson Gill
Russell Kennedy
Sparke Helmore
The Office of David Grace QC=
TressCox
Wisewoulds
Corpora=
te
Legal Departments
AXA
BHP Billiton
Goldman Sachs J B Were
Linfox
National Australia Bank Ltd, Legal Department<=
o:p>
TABCORP Holdings Ltd, Legal Department
Transport Accident Commission
Visy Industrial Packaging Holdings<=
/span>
Univers=
ities
=
Deakin University
La Trobe
University, Sch=
ool of
Law & Legal Studies
Monash=
University, Law School
Univer=
sity
of Melbourne, Law School
=
Victoria University, Facul=
ty of
Business & Law
|
Communi=
ty
Legal Centres
Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention and Legal
Service
Casey Cardinia Community Legal Service
Central Highlands<=
/st1:place>
Community Legal Centre
Coburg<=
span
lang=3DEN-GB style=3D'font-size:7.5pt;color:#003366;mso-ansi-language:E=
N-GB'> Brunswick Com=
munity
Legal and Financial Counselling Centre
Community West
Consumer Law Centre Victoria
Darebin Community Legal Centre
Environment Defenders’ Office (Vic) Ltd<=
o:p>
Essendon Community Legal Centre
Federation of Community Legal Centres (Vic)
Fitzroy Legal Service
Flemington-Kensington Legal Centre<=
/span>
Geelong
Community Legal Service
Gippsland Community Legal Service
JobWatch Inc
Loddon Campapse Community Legal Centre
=
Melbourne University Student
Union Legal Service
Mental Health Legal Centre
Monash Oakleigh Community Legal Centre
Peninsula Community Legal Centre
Southport
Community Legal Centre
Springvale Monash Legal Service
SRC Legal Service, La <=
st1:PlaceName
w:st=3D"on">Trobe Universit=
y
Tenants Union of Victoria
Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service Co-operative
Ltd
West Heidelberg
Community Legal Centre
Western Suburbs Legal Service
Women’s Legal Service<=
/p>
&n=
bsp;
Profess=
ional
Organisations
Law Institute of Victoria
Lawyers Engaged in Alternative Dispute Resolut=
ion
Victorian Bar
|
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turn to
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