Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sex Abuse (2013-2017)

Led the Commonwealth team in the Royal Commission working closely with the Attorney General’s Department to represent the interests of the Commonwealth across the whole of government, instructed by Australian Government Solicitor.

Appeared in case studies involving Commonwealth witnesses with a focus on fact specific claims including children of the 'Stolen Generation' at Retta Dixon Home in NT, Australian Institute of Sports, Australian Defence Force involving AGD, PMC, AIS, ADF and other agencies.

Christian Youth Camps Ltd v Cobaw Community Health Services (2013-2014)

Appeared for the intervenor International Commission of Jurists in the Victorian Court of Appeal in this case concerning competing rights of anti-discrimination and freedom of religion under equal opportunity laws and the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities.

The case involved the refusal of the appellant to provide accommodation services to the respondent, a state-wide youth suicide prevention project targeting same-sex attracted people, on grounds of asserted incompatibility with the doctrines of the religious group. 

The case is important in the context of current debate concerning the exemption of religious organisations providing commercial services to the community from commonwealth and state anti-discrimination provisions and is a landmark Australian case in terms of its consideration of competing human rights.

See case note

Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry (2011-2012)

Led the Commonwealth team in the Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry in 2011-2012 working closely with the Attorney General’s Department to represent the interests of the Commonwealth across the whole of government. 

Commonwealth agencies involved in the Inquiry included AGD, EMA, the Bureau of Meteorology, Defence, AFP, ABCC, Department of Communications and Finance.

The final report of the Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry was provided to the Premier and Minister for Reconstruction, and publicly released, on 16 March 2012.

Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission (2009-2010)

Led the Commonwealth of Australia's team working closely with the Attorney General’s Department to represent the interests of the Commonwealth across the whole of government

The bushfires of Black Saturday, 7 February 2009, caused the death of 173 people. The 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission was an important part of ensuring that those lessons are clearly defined and learnt. The Commission conducted an extensive investigation into the causes of, the preparation for, the response to and the impact of the fires that burned throughout Victoria in late January and February 2009. 

Commonwealth agencies involved in the Inquiry included AGD, EMA, PMC, the Bureau of Meteorology, Defence, DIGO, AFP, ABCC, CSIRO, Geoscience Australia, Department of Communications and Finance. 

Blue Wedges Inc v Minister For The Environment, Heritage And The Arts

Led the case for the plaintiff concerning the proposal to deepen the shipping channel and dump dredge spoil including toxic metals and other contaminants in Port Philip.

The dredging involved the disturbance of heavy metals and other historical industrial waste in the Yarra River and Port Philip and the impact of dredging and dumping of spoil in the Bay on protected species and Ramsar wetlands in the Bay and recreational use of the Bay.

The case concerned the approval of the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment and the assessment process conducted by the state and Port authority.