On Monday, I was in Canberra for an ABA directors’ meeting in the morning, and then the High Court ceremony in the afternoon to announce our 2022 silks. It’s always a fantastic event and this year was no exception. The ceremony was followed by afternoon tea with the High Court judges and then a gala dinner in the evening. The silks bows ceremony in its current form has been running since 1982 and is arranged by the ABA each year. This year’s ceremony was the last at which the Honourable Chief Justice Kiefel will preside given her upcoming retirement. Her Honour spoke at the gala dinner and after her speech the President of the ABA, Peter Dunning KC, announced that her Honour had been awarded life membership of the ABA on account of her remarkable contribution to the profession over many decades. The junior silk speech was given by the one and only Mark Costello S.C.. While Mark may have been reluctant, I along with Róisín Annesley KC (Vice President of the ABA), had pushed for him to be selected by the ABA Executive to give the speech. As usual, he smashed it out of the park … and by the end of the evening he was talking to me again! My sincere thanks to Mark for taking on one of the toughest after dinner gigs going around and doing such a good job.
The Victorian Bar and the Law Institute of Victoria (LIV) have expressed concerns over the Human Source Management Bill 2023 introduced into Parliament on 7 February 2023.
It has been a busy week of meetings and events. On Monday, along with Mark Robins KC, I attended the Ecumenical service for the opening of the legal year at St Paul’s Cathedral. It was a very successful event. My thanks go to Mark for helping to arrange it.
The Victorian Bar wishes to extend its condolences to the family, friends and community of Veronica Nelson, a Gunditjmara, Dja Dja Wurrung, Wiradjuri and Yorta Yorta woman. Ms Nelson’s death occurred in tragic and traumatic circumstances and Coroner McGregor found that her death was preventable.1
Happy new year! I hope the holiday break allowed everyone to refresh and recharge for the coming year. My sense is that 2023 will be busy, challenging and – I very much hope – rewarding for you all.
It is with deep regret that the Bar Council informs members of the death of Brendan Anthony Murphy KC on Monday, 26 December 2022 at the age of 80 years.
