DownUnderAllOver is a round-up of legal news from both State and federal jurisdictions, and contains topical articles and short pieces from Alternative Law Journal committees around the country.
Solicitor-General Walter Sofronoff resigned in March 2014. The Solicitor-General was critical of Attorney-General Bleijie accusing him of defaming Court of Appeal president Margaret McMurdo by disclosing confidential communication. Sofronoff QC called on the Attorney-General to resign. Sofronoff QC was replaced on 10 April by Peter Dunning QC.
The Criminal Law Amendment Bill 2014 of 8 May includes many changes, among others:
Queensland’s LNP government has used its huge majority to pass the contentious Crime and Misconduct and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2014. The Bill ends the bi-partisan appointment of the CMC head and overhauls its powers and focus. This means that the government can appoint a chairperson of its choice. Although a parliamentary committee can veto the government’s choice, that is unlikely because the committee already has a majority of LNP MPs.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land (Providing Freehold) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2014 allows for the conversion of native title and Deeds of Grant in Trust land into freehold title. The Bill was criticised the same day it was introduced (8 May) on the basis that it could divide communities, be impractical due to costs associated with remoteness, and that communities may be at risk of losing parcels of land (within communal land) to banks and outsiders in situations involving foreclosure.
So much has happened in Queensland it has been hard squeeze all the changes into a quarterly column. The Industrial Relations (Transparency and Accountability of Industrial Organisations) and Other Acts Amendment Bill 2013 which removed ‘union friendly provisions’ that might require the government to actively encourage union membership and provide preferential treatment to union members, also re-established managerial prerogative within government entities. It also restricted the right of entry by unions onto workplaces, and it imposed onerous financial reporting obligations on unions which arguably has implications for free political speech.
Subscribe via RSS
To subscribe directly using Google Chrome please install the Chrome RSS Extension
News & Views