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Inaugural First Nations silk named as part-time ALRC commissioner
Tony McAvoy SC has been appointed a part-time commissioner of the Australian Law Reform Commission.
Jerome Doraisamy
McAvoy, a Wirdi man from Central Queensland, is set to co-lead the ALRC’s inquiry into the future acts regime in the Native Title Act 1993, in conjunction with ALRC president, the Honourable Justice Mordecai Bromberg.
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The inquiry will investigate and develop options to rectify any inequality, unfairness or weaknesses in the future acts regime, which governs how development projects occur in areas subject to native title.
The appointment is for up to 18 months, or until the inquiry is completed.
McAvoy brings, the Attorney-General’s Department said in a statement, more than 30 years of experience in native title, property, and environmental law, “and is widely recognised as Australia’s most senior First Nations barrister”.
“This appointment ensures the inquiry has the benefit of Mr McAvoy’s unparalleled expertise,” the department said.
A-G Dreyfus said: “I congratulate Mr McAvoy on his appointment and thank him for agreeing to take on this role.”
McAvoy, a barrister and mediator, holds a bachelor of laws and a doctor of laws (Honoris Causa). He was called to the NSW Bar in 2000 and, in 2015, was the first First Nations person to be appointed senior counsel.
He was formerly an acting part-time commissioner of the NSW Land and Environment Court, acting Northern Territory Treaty commissioner, and commissioner of the NSW Independent Planning Commission.
Jerome Doraisamy
Jerome Doraisamy is the editor of Lawyers Weekly. A former lawyer, he has worked at Momentum Media as a journalist on Lawyers Weekly since February 2018, and has served as editor since March 2022. He is also the host of all five shows under The Lawyers Weekly Podcast Network, and has overseen the brand's audio medium growth from 4,000 downloads per month to over 60,000 downloads per month, making The Lawyers Weekly Show the most popular industry-specific podcast in Australia. Jerome is also the author of The Wellness Doctrines book series, an admitted solicitor in NSW, and a board director of Minds Count.
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