Oz lawyers hail outgoing Attorney-General

Australian lawyers have praised recently-resigned Attorney-General Nicola Roxon for her ground-breaking work, as she hands over the reins to Mark Dreyfus.
Canberra: Attorney General changing of the guard

Canberra: Attorney General changing of the guard

The Australian Lawyers Alliance pointed out Ms Roxon’s work in introducing plain packaging laws for tobacco and also the establishment of the Royal Commission into child sex abuse.
Alliance president Tony Kerin told Lawyers Weekly: ‘She has every reason to leave satisfied she’s made a number of achievements in the role.’

Human rights voice

Ms Roxon, who resigned on Saturday, will be succeeded by Mark Dreyfus QC. Mr Kerin said he hopes Mr Dreyfus will be able to continue Ms Roxon’s work on the country’s national disability insurance scheme.
Mr Dreyfus – a staunch supporter of free speech – is also expected to add considerable weight Ms Roxon’s draft legislation concerning human rights and anti-discrimination.

Kiwi striking off

Elsewhere in the region, the New Zealand Herald reports that veteran lawyer Barry Hart has been struck off the Law Society’s registrar today after he was found guilty of misconduct, obstructing the Auckland District Law Society's investigations and not fully paying a private investigator he had hired.
Mr Hart -- one of New Zealand's most high-profile criminal defence lawyers -- did not attend his own disciplinary hearing last year after seeking an adjournment and sending in medical certificates to say he was unwell.

Overcharging

However, the hearing went ahead and the Lawyers and Conveyances Disciplinary Tribunal found Mr Hart guilty of three misconduct charges, including overcharging.
Despite an appeal in December, Justice Helen Winkelmann and her High Court colleague Justice Graham Lang dismissed Mr Hart's appeal in their decision released today.
The judges added that Mr Hart ‘persistently delayed and obstructed’ the Law Society's investigation and the disciplinary process. Mr Hart declined to comment on the judgment.

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