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While acknowledging there is a “diversity of views” among its members, the Law Institute of Victoria has thrown its support behind the proposed Voice to Parliament.
The LIV is the latest body in the nation’s legal profession to issue public support for the proposal to enshrine an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice in the Constitution, which is set to be decided by a referendum at some point in 2023.
Despite the Voice not receiving bipartisan support in Australia’s Parliament — something the Law Council felt would be critical for its ultimate passage in May of last year — lawyers and legal employers nationwide have coalesced behind the “Yes” vote.
As has been reported by Lawyers Weekly, most BigLaw firms are supporting the Voice. Arnold Bloch Leibler senior partner Mark Leibler told this brand, late last year, that lawyers are “ideally placed” to play a role in ensuring the public understands the Voice and how it operates — something that Professor Anne Twomey detailed recently.
Last month, Solicitor-General Stephen Donaghue KC provided advice noting that the proposed Voice would “enhance” the Australian Constitution, the Law Council called the Voice “just and legally sound”, and six silks — all of whom are former presidents of the Australian Bar Association or Law Council — threw their support behind the “Yes” campaign.
Ms Wolff added: “It will be both a substantive and practical measure to better inform policy and legal decisions that impact the lives of Indigenous Australians.
“The consequences of the constitutional change have been interrogated by constitutional experts and have been found to be sound.
“Ultimately, each Australian will need to arrive at their own decision on this issue. In reaching this decision, the LIV is cognisant of the diversity of views across our community and the LIV membership.”
Jerome Doraisamy is the managing editor of Lawyers Weekly and HR Leader. He is also the author of The Wellness Doctrines book series, an admitted solicitor in New South Wales, and a board director of the Minds Count Foundation.
You can email Jerome at:
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Jerome Doraisamy
