2008 - THE YE AR AH EAD Opening of the Legal Year 2008 DARWIN

The Darwi n legal profession marked the traditional Opening of the Legal Year with an ecumenical service and ST m fs luncheon on Monday 4 February 2008. Reverend Wendell Flentje of the Casuarina Uniting Church led the service in the Supreme Court following a colourful procession. Respected former member of the local profession, His Honour, The Administrator, Mr Tom Pauling QC, was an entertaining guest speaker Above: The Darwin OLY for a sell-out crowd at ecumenical service the lunch at Hanuman Restaurant. Left: The OLY procession

His Honour, The Administrator, Mr Tom Folding OC Craig Smyth, Martin Fisher and Phil Timnev

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Matt Hubber and Shane McMaster Michael Grant OC, Lisa Coffey and Jenny Blokland C.SM

1/2008 — Page 8 Enjoying the Darwin OLY address Justice Dean Mildren RFD, Chief Justice Brian Martin

David Lis son, Tern> Lis son and Judy Bonner Justice David Angel and Dr Chris Burns MLA Opening of the Legal Year 2008 ALICE SPRINGS The Alice Springs legal profession marked the 2008 Opening of the Legal Year on Wednesday 6 February. Law Society representatives also took the opportunity to get an update from representatives of local agencies regarding the Commonwealth Intervention in the Centre. The Administrator of tire was again a popular speaker at the after service lunch at the Hanuman Restaurant Alice Spnngs. Above: His Honour, The Administrator, Mr Tom Pauling OC, Justice , Mr Bernard Thank you to all the staff KilgariffAO JP and Mrs Tessa Pending reflect on the of the Law Courts for their year ahead assistance with this event in Alice Springs. Left: Justice Sally Thomas speaking during the service 1/2008 — Page 9 2008 - THE YEAR AHEAD Opening of the Legal Year 2008 Law Society President’s Opening of the Legal Year address

Law Society President, Duncan McConnel

Welcome to the Opening I wanted to pass on to of the Legal Year lunch the people gathered here Reverend Tracy Spencer for 2008, and welcome to today, is that the Northern the new legal year. Territory is the only jurisdiction in One of the interesting ironies in my position where those injustices will be meted out. as President of the Law Society has been to be We don't have the benefit involved in the roll out of being a profession of the Legal Pro fession which works against such Act. An Act that sees the injustices on a national Northern Territory's legal scale. It happens here profession become more in the Northern Territory and more aligned with the and nowhere else. And The Alice Springs ecumenical service profession nationally. And so its important, Ladies a gradual, but steady move, and Gentlemen, that when towards a completely truly we’re confronted with national legal profession, those injustices as Northern with equal laws and equal Territory lawyers, that we obligations amongst all speak loud, and we speak of us. up for the consequences that may be imposed by Compare that with such a system. the position of the Commonwealth Navigating the diplomatic Intervention, where and constitutional mine the Northern Territory fields of advocating for receives special treatment, the Northern Territory’s David Bomber SM and Bernard KilgariffAO JP and laws from outside are position is a major imposed on ourjurisdiction challenge for all of us in that are not imposed in any the year ahead. other part of this country. This afternoon’s The Intervention this year speaker, His Honor, The highlights two important Administrator, Mr Tom matters for the Northern Pauling QC, is a seasoned Territory. The first is veteran of such matters. To that different treatment introduce this afternoon's that we're all required to speaker, and to address endure (while it lasts). the crowd today, may I The second is that there please welcome his Honor will undoubtedly be, in the the Chief Justice, Brian course of the year ahead, Martin. individual injustices, and Luke Gardiner, Nardine Collier & Janet Taylor the important message

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