ILAA MELBOURNE LAUNCH

by

Maria Jockel

On 18 July 2003, Gadens Lawyers Melbourne hosted the highly successful Melbourne Launch of the ILAA (www.ilaa.asn.au). Chief Justice Black of the Federal Court of Australia as well as other distinguished guests including Bill O’Shea, President of the Law Institute of Victoria, John Williams, State Director of the Department of Immigration & Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs, senior members of the Migration Review Tribunal and the Victoria Bar, as well as senior academics and many lawyers (including Immigration Law Accredited Specialists) practising in or interested in immigration and human rights law and policy attended the Launch.

Chief Justice Black in his speech in support of the aims and work of the ILAA referred to the importance of this area of the law in the context of judicial review, human rights and public policy issues.

Bill O’Shea, as the President of the Law Institute of Victoria, lent strong support to the formation of the ILAA. He acknowledged the many challenges facing practitioners in this complex area of law and spoke of the importance of promoting professional standards and community awareness.

Maria Jockel, as the State Director of the ILAA and the Partner in Charge of the Gadens Immigration Law Group spoke of the economic and social benefits of Australia’s migration program and the aims of the ILAA. For example in the year 2000 international students generated $3.7 billion in income for the Australian economy. International students in the higher education sector contributed $2 billion towards the total making education one of Australia’s largest export earners.

Chief Magistrate Bryant of the Federal Magistrates Court of Australia, who had accepted the invitation to speak at the Launch unfortunately had to send her apologies, as she had to attend a funeral. However, she sent her best wishes.

Justice Michael Kirby of the High Court of Australia, was unable to accept the invitation to attend the Launch as he was interstate at the time. However he sent the following message:

“I cannot therefore be present at your launch but I send a message of good wishes for this initiative in establishing a professional group for lawyers concerned with the many difficult and technical issues that arise in immigration cases”.

The Executive of the ILAA were delighted with the attendance at the Melbourne Launch. The Executive Members include Glenn Ferguson who is the President, Anne O’Donoghue who is the Vice President, Maria Jockel, Erskine Rodan who is the Treasurer, David Ryken who represents the Auckland Law Society and Carina Ford. Regrettably, Glenn Ferguson was not able to attend the launch as he was overseas meeting with the American Immigration Lawyers Association and the Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association of the United Kingdom.

Through these international networks and alliances, the ILAA will provide an excellent opportunity to provide updates and to discuss the latest developments in immigration law from both an Australian and a global perspective.

There is considerable work to be done to promote and achieve the aims of the ILAA in this vitally important area of the law which has profound economic, social and cultural benefits for Australia as a whole.