Opening Address

The Honourable Paul Brereton, Commissioner, National Anti-Corruption Commission

Natural Justice in the Tribunal Setting: Tracing the nature and scope of the obligation of procedural fairness in tribunals in NSW

Tribunals are increasingly relied upon to resolve disputes related to administrative decision-making, and between private individuals and entities. Tribunals are often directed to conduct proceedings with procedural informality and flexibility with a view to ensuring that they maintain a forum for cost-effective, efficient and accessible dispute resolution. However, directives of informality and flexibility can pose a challenge to traditional obligations of procedural fairness, particularly the hearing rule. The purpose of this session is to clarify the requirements of natural justice, specifically the hearing rule, in the tribunal setting and to provide some guidance in determining the content and scope of the duty of procedural fairness in a particular case.

• The Honourable Justice Kristina Stern, Supreme Court of NSW

Working with interpreters

• Professor Ludmilla Stern, Interpreting and Translation Programs, School of Humanities and Languages UNSW

Reason writing for non-lawyers

The craft of giving reasons for the judgments that courts and tribunals make is a skill that needs to be learned and continually developed. Three criteria may assist. Purpose – why do we give reasons for judgment? Structure – how should we structure our reasons for judgment? Expression – how can we better express ourselves in our reasons for judgment? These three criteria are used to offer suggestions as to how we can improve our skill in crafting reasons for judgment.

• The Honourable Justice Brian Preston, Chief Judge Land and Environment Court NSW

From Sticky to Salubrious in Dispute Resolution 

• A conversation between Dr Laurence Boulle AM and Anne Sutherland

Tips and traps for the non-lawyer on multi-disciplinary panels

Many tribunals are constituted by multi-disciplinary panels, reflecting the value placed by the legislature on a broader range of perspectives and skills than those held by legal practitioners. In this session, Malcolm Schyvens, Chair of COAT National and President of the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, will engage in discussion with a number of highly experienced members from a range of disciplines who will provide insights from years of decision-making on multi member panels, as well as ideas for nurturing excellence amongst this membership across NSW tribunals.

• Malcolm Schyvens, President of Tasmanian Civil & Administrative Tribunal

with panelists:

• Don Sword, NSW Civil & Administrative Tribunal
• Vanessa Robb, Mental Health Review Tribunal
• Margaret Spencer, NSW Civil & Administrative Tribunal
• Dr Jon Fogarty, NSW Medical Council

Administrative Law Update

• Theresa Baw, Barrister Frederick Jordan Chambers

The Sovereign Citizen in Courts and Tribunals

• Acting Superintendent Matthew York, NSW Sheriff’s office