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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2022-05-17 Daily Xml
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Walk for Justice

The Hon. J.E. HANSON (15:29): My question is to the Attorney-General. Will the minister inform the council about this morning's Walk for Justice and the work that JusticeNet SA does to facilitate access to justice?

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! We have had a question. The minister will answer the question and we will listen in silence.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Attorney-General, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (15:30): I think I heard the question. It's very noisy in here. I can hardly hear what's going on.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! Just answer the question, Attorney. We don't need a commentary.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: I thank the honourable member for his question and his ongoing interest in justice. I would like to commence by wishing a happy Pro Bono Day to all the lawyers and the other people in the legal profession who volunteer their time and resources to ensure that the most vulnerable in our community get access to justice. It really is a great thing that many in the legal profession do, and a credit to the profession that so many donate their time and skills to helping out those who might not otherwise have access to justice.

I'm pleased that the Attorney-General's Department has provided a number of supports to JusticeNet, who have coordinated much pro bono work in this state over the years, including in-kind support by the Crown Solicitor's office, whose lawyers donated over 1,500 hours of work, I am informed, with a pro bono estimated value of some $400,000.

JusticeNet administers Pro Bono Connect, a referral scheme that matches eligible individuals and charitable organisations in need of legal assistance with member law firms and barristers who are willing to act on a pro bono basis. JusticeNet also provides a Refugee and Asylum Seeker Assistance referral scheme for judicial review applications, a Federal Court Self Representation scheme and a Homeless Legal outreach service.

This morning, I was very pleased to be able to attend JusticeNet's signature fundraising event, the Walk for Justice. I have been on the Walk for Justice for a number of years and was pleased to attend on behalf of the Premier today in my vintage 2018 justice walk T-shirt. Many of the 2022 T-shirts had not yet arrived—I think one of the consequences of transportation and shipping systems during COVID meant that there weren't enough to go around this morning.

I really do want to acknowledge the exemplary work of JusticeNet. I have had the great good fortune of spending time, a number of times, over the last few years at Adelaide Uni looking at the great work JusticeNet do. Their signature fundraising event, the Walk for Justice, has been running for 13 years. I am told it is the largest gathering of the legal profession in South Australia, which is quite disturbing or a wonderful thing depending on the way you think about it.

After going online during COVID, members of the profession turned out this morning: protesters would say there were thousands, but police reports would probably say dozens. There were maybe a few hundred this morning for a very early start to walk along the Torrens. Before the walk, senior Kaurna man, Uncle Mickey O'Brien, told the story of Tjilbruke as part of his Welcome to Country. He noted the enduring importance of informed decision-making in the justice system.

The JusticeNet purple ribbon to open the walk was cut by the Hon. Chief Justice Chris Kourakis. While this duty would normally be carried out by the Governor, I understand Her Excellency is also affected by COVID in performing her duties. I wish Her Excellency all the best in her time of dealing with COVID, as many others of us have done over the past months and years.

In the past it has been tradition that the Chief Justice and the Attorney-General cook a barbecue breakfast together. With the huge scale of participants this year, I must admit I was just a little relieved that it would be left to the professionals at The Joinery for putting on breakfast for this morning's walkers rather than having to rely on the Chief Justice and the Attorney-General. It was quite a sight, the huge sea of purple T-shirts walking along the Torrens (Karrawirri Parri), and I understand many more virtually joined the walk and donated as well. Clearly, the weather gods were supporters of justice as there was a break in the clouds and a slight reprieve from rain for this morning's walk.

There were other members of the state and federal judiciary present, along with many members of the independent bar, and other leading legal professionals and solicitors. I was very pleased to be walking alongside a number of my colleagues: friends from the Labor Party, the Hon. Emily Bourke from this place, the member for Badcoe, Jane Stinson, in another place, the member for Enfield, Andrea Michaels—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: It was also pleasing to see our colleague in another place, Josh Teague, the shadow attorney-general, and also from this chamber the Hon. Heidi Geronimo and the Hon. Laura Curran, attending this morning's walk. It was a good turnout from North Terrace. Also, the Attorney-General's Department was out in force today, smashing their fundraising target and contributing to the overall goal-beating achievement of, I am told, over $70,000 raised at this morning's walk and still counting. A special mention goes to the top three fundraising teams: Omni Bridgeway, LK Law, and Dentons. Thanks to JusticeNet and its generous donors, thousands of South Australians have had continued access to high-quality legal advice during times when it is needed.

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