Lawyers need to act without fear

Australian Lawyers Alliance national president Greg Barns has expressed his concern over the treatment of human rights lawyer Jennifer Robinson at London’s Heathrow Airport yesterday (19 April) based on her representation of Julian Assange.

Digital • 20 April 2012 • NewLaw

“The ALA is extremely concerned that simply because a lawyer is representing a client that [the] Government does not like, the lawyer is then subjected to security scrutiny,” said Barns.

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Robinson has reportedly been placed on a ‘no fly’ list and requires permission from the Department of Foreign Affairs to fly home to Australia.

According to ABC News, Robinson was stopped at Heathrow Airport on Thursday (19 April) and told she could not board the plane to Australia until she received clearance from the Australian High Commission.

Robinson tweeted: “Just delayed from checking in at LHR [London Heathrow Airport] because I’m apparently ‘inhibited’ – requiring approval from Australia House … to travel.”

The airport incident occurred just days after Robinson met with the Wikileaks founder.

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“The UK and Australian Governments must come clean as to why Ms Robinson was subjected to this treatment at Heathrow airport today and why she is on any sort of security list,” Barns said in a statement yesterday.

“Lawyers must be able to act for their clients without fearing that they will be harassed by government agencies, either in their own country or overseas. An independent legal profession is a hallmark of a democratic society and the UK and Australian Governments’ actions towards lawyers, such as Ms Robinson, undermines that.”

Tovdpvi Tuesday, 31 July 2012

This same details of the event as given above were aired again recently on an episode of ABC's Foreign Correspondent. I presume Australia House remain firm to their position of placing Robinso on an 'inhibited' list. I'm sure it is an aspect of the entire developing story which will just get lost in time and Robinson will just have to lump it unitl she develops an interest in a different case andÂ moves on from the Assange case. Presumably.I had looked forward to the ABC broadcast, but unfortunately it lacked any real detail, and there were areas of the editing which were obviously done in order to enhanceÂ a conspiritorialÂ overtone. Unhelpful and misleading. 

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Heathrow Airport Taxi Monday, 25 June 2012

 I am really looking forward to part 2 of this Blog

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Leadership skills training Monday, 21 May 2012

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Geoffrey Friday, 20 April 2012

Bob Carr, time to step up and make clear that this sort of conduct that apparently occurred here is unacceptable.

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