Rod Welford, who has led legal reforms to address the nationwide insurance crisis, will open the Conference at 9am this Thursday, August 15. His address has provoked great interest among the several hundred lawyers from throughout Australia who will attend.
To give a federal perspective on current Native Title issues, including last week's High Court ruling over Aboriginal rights to underground minerals and oil, Daryl Williams AM QC MP will speak at 4 pm on the same day.
Other contentious issues expected to be discussed at the Conference are Queensland Government proposals to review Native Title legislation, offshore drilling in the Great Barrier Reef, the allocation of coal seam resources between miners and petroleum companies, and the Stuart oil shale project. The tensions which exist when trying to proceed with a major energy project which crosses state boundaries will also be examined.
Media representatives are invited to attend the official opening or Conference sessions of interest.
Key topics in the 'minefield' of resources-related legal issues include: a decade since MABO - the impact of Native Title legislation on mining and petroleum development in Australia; the insurance barriers to bankable mining or energy projects; the trend towards giving legal effect to 'good faith' clauses; and conflicts of interest for professionals working in the resource and energy industries and the effectiveness of 'Chinese walls', a controversial topic given the recent publicity focused on auditors, stockbrokers, lawyers and other professionals.
Other keynote speakers include:
Professor Allan Farnsworth - A world expert in international contract law, Prof. Farnsworth is 'Alfred McCormack Professor of Law' at Columbia University, New York; US Representative to United Nations' Committee meetings on the International Sales Convention and International Commercial Contracts; and author of a leading treatise on United States contract law.
Mr Howard Bamsey - Deputy Secretary, Environment Australia and formerly Australia's Ambassador for the Environment and Representative to Kyoto Protocol meetings.
Professor David McLauchlan - Professor of Law at Victoria University, Wellington, and widely published author in the areas of contract and commercial law.
The conference will be held at the Marriott Resort, Gold Coast Highway, Gold Coast (Queensland), from Thursday, August 15 to Saturday, August 17.
Contact details available from Peter Dighton, on (07) 3878 6587 or mobile 0428786 587
