Australian Lawyers Alliance

02/06/2026

📣 Apply to present at Queensland Conference 2027!

The ALA is calling for abstracts for presentations at Queensland Conference 2027, taking place from 11-13 February at the Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort Gold Coast.

We are seeking abstracts related to Workers' Compensation, Medical Negligence, Costs, Damages, Motor Vehicle, Abuse Law, Public Liability, Superannuation and developing areas of law relevant to personal injury practice.

To apply, submit a 400-word abstract outlining your proposed presentation by Thursday 2 July 2026.

📄 Submit your abstract here: https://form.jotform.com/261479206139865

29/05/2026

Our Travel Law SIG chair Victoria Roy (Victory Travel & Cruise Lawyers) appeared before a Senate inquiry this morning to discuss the ALA's view on the Aviation Consumer Protection Bill 2026 and three related bills.

The ALA broadly supports the direction of this Bill package, but a passenger bill of rights is still missing, and there is a risk that regional Australians could be excluded from its protections.

The Government has indicated that it intends to exempt airports with fewer than one million passengers per year, which we oppose because it will disproportionately affect regional Australians, who are often reliant on aviation for essential travel, including access to specialist medical treatment.

“The creation of an Aviation Consumer Ombudsperson, with the power to make binding decisions in air passenger consumer disputes, is a positive step.

“This exemption risks creating a two-tier system of rights for passengers. It also adds unnecessary complexity to an area where passengers already face too many barriers.”

-Victoria Roy

ALA media release: https://www.lawyersalliance.com.au/Web/News/Media-releases-internal/2026/Aviation-consumer-ombuds-scheme-is-an-improvement-but-must-not-exclude-regional-Australians.aspx

ALA submission on the Bill package: https://www.lawyersalliance.com.au/Web/Submissions-Content/2026/260429SubNat.aspx

29/05/2026

Susan Accary, Jeremy King and Nick Mann led this year’s Case Discussion Panel on the use of AI in legal practice, exploring emerging opportunities, risks and practical considerations for personal injury lawyers. Thank you to Mary Technology for sponsoring this session.

Roger Lewis and James McDonald from Dohrmann Consulting presented on identifying liability in plant and machinery incidents, highlighting the critical importance of thorough investigation and expert analysis.

Lisa Paul and Nadia Grech delivered an insightful session on the 'Snakes and Ladders adventure of 130-week weekly payment terminations', discussing the challenges and complexities in this area of workers' compensation law.

Professor Richard Bittar from Medicolegal Express (MLE) presented on brain and spine injuries in the medicolegal arena, providing a neurosurgeon's perspective on diagnosis, prognosis and common pitfalls for personal injury lawyers.

28/05/2026

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-05-28/federal-government-sues-3m-australia-pfas-firefighting-foam/106731552

The Commonwealth is launching its largest-ever legal claim, suing the manufacturer of a firefighting foam containing PFAS chemicals that contaminated 28 Defence Force bases across Australia.

26/05/2026

Today is National Sorry Day.

Sorry Day commemorates and honours the resilience of the Stolen Generations – the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who were forcibly removed from their families during the 1950s and 1960s. It also acknowledges the continuing effect on those peoples and their communities.

For more insight, read the history of the Kinchela Boys Home in NSW, and its reinvention as a place that now rebuilds and strengthens identity and family structures: https://kinchelaboyshome.org.au/kinchela-boys-home/history-of-kinchela-boys-home/

Read more about Sorry Day below.

26/05/2026

Alisha Muscara, Divina Naidu Moodley and Lisa Paul presented the Workers Compensation Panel at this year's Victoria Conferencing, sharing key updates and developments in Victoria.

Professor Kai Riemer and Associate Professor Sandra Peter from the University of Sydneyy presented on the future of law, exploring how emerging technologies and artificial intelligence are shaping the legal profession.

26/05/2026

David Seeman, Katharine Gladman and Michael Magazanik led this year's Abuse Law Panel at Victoria Conference, discussing recent updates in institutional abuse, including non-delegable duty, vicarious liability, deed cases and more.

Alice Robinson and Gabriel Chipkin presented an Evidence Masterclass focused on hearsay, admissibility of related convictions and a close look at Order 44.

Maria Pilipasidis S.C. presented on Serious Injury Applications and Causation, discussing what needs to be established in the context of 𝘍𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘷 𝘛𝘈𝘊.

22/05/2026

Ellen Hooper presented an engaging and interactive session on the skills needed by the great lawyers of tomorrow, emphasising the future of law is distinctly human.

22/05/2026

Megan Caines, Lauren McKirdy and Jeremy King presented this years Transport Accident Commission (TAC) Panel, discussing how how TAC and the ALA have been working together to drive law reform and continuing this positive collaboration into the future.

Thank you to MEDirect for sponsoring this session.

22/05/2026

ALA members and delegates enjoying just one of the many opportunities throughout the conference to network and build genuine connections at this morning’s break. ☕️