National Access to Justice and Pro Bono Conference

Welcome to the 2010 National Access to Justice and Pro Bono Conference

It is with great pleasure that I congratulate the Law Council of Australia and the National Pro Bono Resource Centre, in conjunction with the Queensland Law Society, for organising the 3rd National Access to Justice and Pro Bono conference.

The challenge of “where to now” is an important one for all of us involved in the justice system and one that the Australian Government has actively sought to meet. It was for this reason that I established the Access to Justice Taskforce in 2009, to conduct a strategic review of the justice system. That review has informed, and will continue to assist the Australian Government in the delivery of an accessible justice system.

Access to justice is central to the rule of law and integral to the enjoyment of basic humanrights. It is an essential precondition to social inclusion and a critical element of a well functioning democracy.

In looking at how the justice system can be improved, the critical test is whether our justice system is fair, simple, affordable and accessible. This includes a commitment to legal assistance services that allow people to obtain early and targeted legal advice. It is also about ensuring our laws and policies promote early intervention to help in the resolutio nof issues before they escalate. People should be able to access information about the justice system and our laws. They should also be able to access alternative dispute resolution services, especially in areas such as family law, where this can contribute to the achievement of lasting solutions in a low cost, informal and non-adversarial environment.

The Government is also committed to supporting and encouraging pro bono legal work, both here in Australia and internationally. I commend the legal profession for the high quality pro bono work it performs and encourage its members to uphold the long honoured tradition of assisting those in need.

The National Pro Bono Resource Centre plays a key role in promoting pro bono work. The International Pro Bono Advisory Group, which I established last year, will also help to promote and support international pro bono work by Australian lawyers by improving collaboration between Government, private and non-Government sectors.

I trust that you will find the Conference a valuable and rewarding experience.

The Hon Robert McClelland MP, Attorney-General for Australia