Media Releases
Third Quarter 2009
- 3 July 2009 - Register of Australian Interests Overseas
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today welcomed the participation of over 100 Australian companies in the Register of Australian Interests Overseas.
- 1 July 2009 - Launch of the International Pro Bono Advisory Group
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today launched the International Pro Bono Advisory Group to promote international pro bono work by Australia’s legal profession and identify linkages with the Government’s international development assistance programs.
- 1 July 2009 - National Legal Profession Reform Consultative Group
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced members of the National Legal Profession Reform Consultative Group to achieve national regulation of the Australian legal profession
Second Quarter 2009
- 30 June 2009 - Additional $6 Million for Legal Assistance Services
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced additional one-off funding of $6 million for legal assistance services.
- 26 June 2009 - Release of National Bushfire Arson Forum Report
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today released a report by the National Bushfire Arson Forum which highlights the importance of effective coordination in combating deliberately lit fires.
- 26 June 2009 - Australian Human Rights Commission Appointments
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced a number of appointments to the Australian Human Rights Commission.
- 25 June 2009 - Further Measures to Improve Disability Rights
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today welcomed the passage of the Disability Discrimination and Other Human Rights Legislation Amendment Bill 2008 through Parliament.
- 25 June 2009 - Rudd Government to Simplify Transnational Litigation
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today welcomed the tabling in Parliament of the Hague Convention on Service Abroad of Judicial and Extrajudicial Documents in Civil and Commercial Matters 1965.
- 25 June 2009 - Kuuku Ya’u Native Title Recognised
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today welcomed a historic recognition of native title by the Kuuku Ya’u people over parts of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
- 25 June 2009 - Appointments to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced seven appointments to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT).
- 24 June 2009 - Appointment of Family Court Judge
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced the appointment of Mr Stewart Austin to the Newcastle registry of the Family Court of Australia.
- 24 June 2009 - Commonwealth Legislation to Combat Serious and Organised Crime
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today introduced legislation into the Parliament which will implement reforms to Commonwealth laws as part of a comprehensive national response to combat serious and organised crime.
- 24 June 2009 - Rudd Government Introduces Personal Properties Securities Law
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today introduced legislation to create a comprehensive national system of personal property securities (PPS) law.
- 22 June 2009 - Rudd Government Introduces Legislation to Improve Access to Justice
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today introduced legislation into the Parliament to help reduce the cost of litigation and minimise unnecessary court delays.
- 20 June 2009 - Australian Federal Police Investigation
The Attorney-General’s Department has today provided me with advice in relation to a very serious allegation that a false email, which purports to relate to the performance of functions by a Commonwealth public official, may have been created and distributed.
- 19 June 2009 - Conference Promotes Understanding and Respect
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today congratulated the work of community forums in promoting an accepting, multicultural society in a speech to the 2009 Diversity of Muslim Women’s Conference.
- 19 June 2009 - Tsunami Exercise Tests Australia’s Warning System
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today delivered the findings of ‘Exercise Ausnami’, a comprehensive test of the Australian Tsunami Warning System (ATWS).
- 17 June 2009 - New Chair of the International Legal Services Advisory Council
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced the appointment of Mr Tim Bugg as Chair of the International Legal Services Advisory Council (ILSAC).
- 17 June 2008 - Red Cross World Disaster Report
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today welcomed the release of the World Disasters Report by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
- 15 June 2009 - Meeting with the United Kingdom Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, and Special Minister of State, Senator Joe Ludwig, today met with the United Kingdom’s Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation, Lord Carlile of Berriew QC.
- 15 June 2009 - Further Assistance for Queensland Flood Victims
Attorney General, Robert McClelland, and Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Tony Burke, today announced further assistance for small businesses and primary producers affected by the February floods in Queensland.
- 11 June 2009 - Nyangumarta Native Title Determination
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today welcomed the Federal Court’s recognition of the Nyangumarta people’s native title rights in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
- 10 June 2009 - Funding for Retired and Career Break Lawyers Project
Attorney-General Robert McClelland today announced funding for a project to help retired lawyers and lawyers taking a break from their careers to become involved in pro bono legal work.
- 10 June 2009 - Working with Business to Secure Critical Infrastructure
Executives from Australia’s critical infrastructure businesses attended an E-security Executive Breakfast Briefing this morning in Sydney to discuss e-security issues and their impact on critical infrastructure.
- 5 June 2009 - Appointment to the Copyright Tribunal
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced the appointment of Justice Nye Perram as a Deputy President of the Copyright Tribunal of Australia.
- 3 June 2009 - Mabo Day marked by boost to native title
On the 17th anniversary of the historic Mabo judgement, Native Title Representative Bodies are set to receive $45.8 million in additional funding to help address the backlog in native title claims.
- 26 May 2009 - Further Support for Regional Families
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced funding for fifteen regional services to provide support for families experiencing relationship and separation issues.
- 25 May 2009 - Help for Flood-Affected People in South-East Queensland and Northern NSW
The Australian Government today announced additional assistance to flood-affected residents of South-East Queensland, the North Coast and the Northern Rivers regions of New South Wales.
- 22 May 2009 - Commonwealth Assistance for Northern New South Wales Flood Victims
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced that the Commonwealth Government will provide financial assistance to communities affected by heavy rainfall and flooding in northern New South Wales.
- 22 May 2009 - Australia Takes Action Against Torture
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced significant measures the Rudd Government is taking to prohibit the use of torture.
- 21 May 2009 - Australia and New Zealand Enhance Disaster Resilience Links
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today welcomed the signing of a cooperation arrangement between the national emergency management organisations of New Zealand and Australia.
- 21 May 2009 - Commonwealth Assistance for South-East Queensland Flood Victims
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced that the Commonwealth Government will provide financial assistance to communities affected by heavy rainfall and flooding in South-East Queensland.
- 19 May 2009 - Review of the Legislative Instruments Act
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, has tabled a report into the operation of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003.
- 15 May 2009 - Proscription of Terrorist Organisation
The Australian Government has re-listed Hizballah’s External Security Organisation (ESO) as a terrorist organisation under Australia’s counter-terrorism laws.
- 12 May 2009 - $1.3 Billion to Combat People Smuggling and Strengthen Australia’s National Security
The 2009-10 Budget provides more than $1.3 billion over six years to strengthen Australia’s national security and border protection regime.
- 12 May 2009 - Strengthening our National Security
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, and Minister for Home Affairs, Bob Debus, today announced around $100 million in funding over four years to strengthen Australia’s national security framework as part of the Government’s $685 million investment in national security.
- 12 May 2009 - Enhancing Security at Australia’s Airports
The Rudd Government will invest $53 million to enhance security and policing at Australia’s eleven major airports.
- 12 May 2009 - Enhancing International Law Enforcement Co-operation and Capacity Building
The Rudd Government will invest more than $500 million over four years to help build the capacity of law enforcement agencies in the Solomon Islands, Indonesia, Pakistan and Africa.
- 12 May 2009 - Improving Disaster Resilience
The Rudd Government will invest $79.3 million to strengthen efforts to prepare for and combat major natural disasters.
- 12 May 2009 - Supporting our Civil Justice System
The Rudd Government will provide additional funding to strengthen our civil justice system in the 2009-10 Budget.
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12 May 2009 - Additional $50 Million for Native Title System
The Rudd Government will provide additional funding to support the native title system so that it can help close the gap between Indigenous and non‑Indigenous Australians.
- 11 May 2009 - National Law Week
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, welcomed today’s commencement of National Law Week.
- 9 May 2009 - Funding for Legal Assistance Services
The Rudd Government will provide more than $20 million in additional one-off funding for legal assistance programs, focussing on enhancing early intervention and alternative dispute resolution.
- 6 May 2009 - Commonwealth provides over $4 million in Bushfire Mitigation Funding to States & Territories
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced that the Commonwealth will provide more than $4 million to the States and Territories through the Bushfire Mitigation Program.
- 6 May 2009 - Australian Federal Police Commissioner
Mr Mick Keelty APM, has informed the Government of his decision to retire as Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police (AFP) effective from 2 September 2009.
- 5 May 2009 - Same-sex Reform Education Campaign
The Australian Government will provide $450,000 for a community education campaign to inform same-sex couples about implications of recent reforms to legislation, which enable same-sex couples and their children to be recognised by Commonwealth law.
- 5 May 2009 - Rudd Government to Reform Federal Courts
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced a restructure of Federal Courts to more effectively deliver legal and justice services to the community.
- 30 April 2009 - COAG agrees to establish National Emergency Warning System
The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) today agreed to develop a national telephone emergency warning system.
- 30 April 2009 - National Legal Profession Reform
Today, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) has agreed on a plan to achieve national regulation of the Australian legal profession.
- 29 April 2009 - Time for Action to reduce violence against women and children
The Australian Government today released Time for Action, the major report of the National Council to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children.
- 22 April 2009 - $100 Million for Family Relationship Services
Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin, and Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced the Government would invest more than $100 million over the next two years to assist families deal with relationship difficulties.
- 22 April 2009 - Commonwealth Assistance for Lord Howe Island Storm Victims
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced that the Commonwealth will provide financial assistance to those affected by recent severe storms on Lord Howe Island.
- 20 April 2009 - National Emergency Volunteer Leadership Programme
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today attended the inaugural National Emergency Volunteer Leadership Programme in Mount Macedon, Victoria.
- 17 April 2009 - Arson Penalties to be Strengthened
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, and State and Territory Attorneys‑General today agreed on the necessity for strong bushfire and arson offences across Australia.
- 17 April 2009 - Communique -Standing Committee of Attorneys-General
The Standing Committee of Attorneys-General (SCAG) today completed its first meeting for 2009.
- 17 April 2009- Support for Trans-Tasman Law Reform
Australian Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, and New Zealand Justice Minister, Simon Power, today welcomed Australian State and Territory Ministers’ support for the implementation of the Trans-Tasman Court Proceedings and Regulatory Enforcement Treaty.
- 16 April 2009 - Australian Government Welcomes Historic Kimberley Agreement
The Australian Government today welcomed the landmark agreement between the Kimberley Land Council (KLC), Woodside and the Western Australian Government, to move forward with the Kimberley Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) precinct at James Price Point.
- 16 April 2009 - National response to combat Organised Crime
The Standing Committee of Attorneys-General (SCAG) today agreed to develop a comprehensive national response to combat organised crime.
- 9 April 2009 - Government tightens Reduced Fire Risk Cigarette Regulations
Consumer Affairs Minister, Chris Bowen, and Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced the Government will reduce the transition period that non-reduced fire-risk (RFR) cigarettes will be available for sale from 12 to 6 months.
- 8 April 2009 - Commonwealth Assistance for Flood Victims in South-East Queensland
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced that the Commonwealth Government will provide financial assistance to communities recently affected by heavy rainfall and flooding in the Sunshine Coast and Gympie regions of South-East Queensland.
- 7 April 2009 - Commonwealth Provides Over $18 Million in Disaster Mitigation Funding to States and Territories
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced that more than $18 million will be provided to the States and Territories this financial year under the Natural Disaster Mitigation Program (NDMP).
- 3 April 2009 - Commonwealth assistance for flood victims on New South Wales mid-north coast
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced that the Commonwealth Government will provide financial assistance for recovery efforts following the recent flooding of communities on the New South Wales mid-north coast.
- 2 April 2009 - Family Dispute Resolution keeps families out of Court
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today released the ‘Family Dispute Resolution Services in Legal Aid Commissions’ evaluation report which highlights the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of family dispute resolution (FDR) services.
- 1 April 2009 - Justice Robert Buchanan Appointed Acting President of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced the appointment of Justice Robert Buchanan as a Presidential Member and Acting President of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.
First Quarter 2009
- 30 March 2009 - Federal Attorney-General Formally Recognises Bushfire Emergency Response
Federal Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, will today visit the Victorian town of Kinglake to thank those involved in the emergency response to the devastating February bushfires.
- 27 March 2009 - Business-Government Advisory Group on National Security
The sixth meeting of the Business-Government Advisory Group on National Security was today held in Canberra.
- 27 March 2009 - Media Statement
There is some media speculation today regarding the activities of ASIO and other intelligence agencies.
- 26 March 2009 - Encouraging Access to Justice Through Alternative Dispute Resolution
Federal Attorney‑General, Robert McClelland, today welcomed the release of the ‘Alternative Dispute Resolution in the Civil Justice System’ issues paper by the National Alternative Dispute Resolution Advisory Council (NADRAC).
- 25 March 2009 - Expert Forum Sets Agenda to Combat Bushfire Arson
Federal Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today convened a National Forum on the Reduction of Deliberate Bushfires in Australia.
- 20 March 2009 - Review of Commonwealth Legal Service Procurement
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced a broad review into the procurement of legal services following the significant increase in legal expenditure by Commonwealth agencies in the 2007-08 financial year.
- 19 March 2009 - Rudd Government introduces Legislation to improve the Native Title system
AttorneyGeneral, Robert McClelland, today introduced legislation to achieve quicker, more flexible negotiated settlements of native title claims.
- 19 March 2009 - Government Delivers Commitment on Journalist Shield Laws
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today delivered on the Rudd Government’s election commitment to strengthen journalist shield laws by introducing into Parliament the Evidence Amendment (Journalists’ Privilege) Bill 2009.
- 18 March 2009 - Progress on Trans-Tasman Legal Reforms
Robert McClelland, Australian Attorney-General, and Simon Power, New Zealand Minister for Justice, today met in Canberra to progress a range of measures aimed at harmonising trans-Tasman legal arrangements.
- 18 March 2009 - National Security Discussions with Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today met with Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security, Professor Shunmugan Jayakumar, to discuss a broad range of national security issues facing Australia, Singapore and the wider region.
- 17 March 2009 - Proscription of Six Terrorist Organisations
The Australian Government has today re-listed six groups as terrorist organisations under the Criminal Code, following advice from Australia’s security agencies.
- 16 March 2009 - Commonwealth Assistance to recover Pacific Adventurer shipping containers
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced that the Rudd Government will deploy a Royal Australian Navy mine-hunting vessel to search for 31 fertiliser containers lost from the Pacific Adventurer during Tropical Cyclone Hamish on 11 March.
- 16 March 2009 - 60th Anniversary of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO)
Today I congratulated the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) on its 60th anniversary as Australia’s lead national intelligence agency.
- 13 March 2009 - Further Assistance for Victims of the North Queensland Floods
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced that the Australian Government will contribute a further $500,000 to assist victims of the recent North Queensland floods.
- 12 March 2009 - Legal Services exports continue to grow
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today welcomed a survey by the International Legal Services Advisory Council (ILSAC) indicating that Australia’s legal services exports grew by over 24 per cent between 2004-05 and 2006-07.
- 11 March 2009 - Inaugural Meeting of the Reference Group on Chemical Security
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today addressed the inaugural meeting of the National Industry Reference Group on Chemical Security.
- 6 March 2009 - Attorney-General Welcomes New Family Violence Best Practice Principles
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today welcomed the Family Court of Australia’s new ‘Family Violence Best Practice Principles’.
- 6 March 2009 - Youth Access to Legal Advice Goes Online
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today launched Youthlaw Online, an important service dedicated to providing young people in Victoria with greater access to legal advice.
- 4 March 2009 - Australia Strengthens Women's Rights
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, and the Minister for the Status of Women, Tanya Plibersek, today welcomed the entry into force in Australia of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).
- 3 March 2009 - Australian Appointed Inaugural Rapporteur to the United Nations Disabilities Convention
Attorney-General Robert McClelland and Foreign Minister Stephen Smith today welcomed the appointment of Professor Ron McCallum AO as Rapporteur to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
- 27 February 2008 - Expansion of Overseas Adoption Programs in Hong Kong and Taiwan
Attorney-General Robert McClelland today announced the expansion of Australia’s overseas adoption programs with Hong Kong and Taiwan.
- 25 February 2009 - New Director-General of Security
Attorney-General Robert McClelland has today announced the appointment of Mr David Irvine AO as the next Director-General of Security.
- 23 February 2009 - Meeting with Attorney-General for England and Wales
Commonwealth Attorney-General Robert McClelland today met with the Attorney-General for England and Wales, the Rt Hon Baroness Scotland of Asthal QC, ahead of Baroness Scotland delivering the Magna Carta lecture at Parliament House in Canberra.
- 23 February 2009 - Rudd Government Implements COAG Agreement on Telephone-Based Emergency Warning Systems
The Rudd Government will today introduce into Parliament amendments to the Telecommunications Act 1997 to enable access to the Integrated Public Number Database (IPND) for telephone-based emergency warning systems established by the States and Territories.
- 20 February 2009 - Family Law Conference Targets Access to Justice
Attorney-General Robert McClelland today thanked the family law practitioners attending the Inaugural Family Law System Conference for the enthusiasm and commitment shown during discussions on new and innovative ways to improve the family law system.
- 19 February 2009 - Attorney-General Opens Family Law Conference
Attorney-General Robert McClelland has today opened the Inaugural Family Law System Conference, which aims to improve integration across key sectors of family law.
- 19 February 2009 - Australian Government Provides an Extra $4 Million for Aerial Firefighting
Attorney-General Robert McClelland has today announced that the Australian Government will provide an additional $4 million to keep in place aerial firefighting capability across the country this bushfire season.
- 18 February 2009 - Legal Assistance for Victims of the Victorian Bushfires
Attorney-General Robert McClelland today announced that the Australian Government will provide $220,000 to Victorian community legal centres to help Victorians affected by the bushfire disaster.
- 13 February 2009 - Telecommunications interception powers - vital and effective investigative tools
Attorney-General Robert McClelland today tabled the 20th Annual Report for the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979 in Parliament.
- 13 February 2009 - Appointment to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal
Attorney-General Robert McClelland today announced the appointment of Justice Brian Tamberlin as a Deputy President of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.
- 11 February 2009 - Australian Government Assistance for New South Wales Fires
Attorney-General Robert McClelland has activated the Commonwealth Disaster Plan for New South Wales, authorising the use of Defence Force assets to support New South Wales fight fires at Singleton, in the Hunter Valley.
- 8 February 2009 - Rudd Government Flies Food Packs into Remote Queensland
Attorney-General Robert McClelland has activated the Commonwealth Disaster plan, authorising the use of the Defence Force to supply and deliver thousands of food packs into the flooded Ingham area of North Queensland.
- 3 February 2009 - Legal Profession Reform to Strengthen Australian Economy
The Prime Minister has today announced that legal profession reform will form part of the Government’s ongoing micro-economic reform agenda to strengthen the Australian economy in the face of the global financial crisis.
- 2 February 2009 - Commonwealth Assistance to Restore Broken Communications in Derby
Attorney-General Robert McClelland has today authorised the use of Defence Force resources to urgently fly replacement communications fibre optic cable into the northwest of Western Australia.
- 1 February 2009 - Rudd Government to Address Bushfire Arson with States and Territories
Attorney-General Robert McClelland today welcomed the release of a report by the Australian Institute of Criminology on prevention of deliberate bushfires in Australia.
- 30 January 2009 - One Month Extension for National Human Rights Consultation
I have agreed today to a request by Father Frank Brennan, Chair of the National Human Rights Consultation Committee, for a one-month extension to the reporting date of the National Human Rights Consultation.
- 22 January 2009 - Nine Chinese Lawyers to visit Australia on Legal Development Program
Attorney-General Robert McClelland today announced that nine legal professionals from China have been selected to come to Australia for the third Program.
- 20 January 2009 - Review of Royal Commissions Act
Attorney-General Robert McClelland today announced that the Rudd Government has asked the Australian Law Reform Commission to review the Royal Commissions Act 1902.
- 19 January 2009 - New Trustee Service Chief Executive appointed
Attorney-General Robert McClelland today announced the appointment of Veronique Ingram as Chief Executive of the Insolvency and Trustee Service Australia (ITSA) and Inspector-General in Bankruptcy.
- 18 January 2009 - New Resources to Assist Grandparents
Attorney-General Robert McClelland today announced that the Rudd Government will provide increased resources through the family law system to help grandparents maintain positive relationships with their grandchildren.
- 14 January 2009 - Ministers Make Trans-Tasman Law Reform a Priority
Australian Attorney-General Robert McClelland and New Zealand Justice Minister Simon Power today announced that both countries will introduce legislation as a priority to make resolving legal disputes across the Tasman cheaper, more efficient and less complicated.
Archived Media Releases
