Luke Gosling (Solomon, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I want to acknowledge Mr Bernard Collaery on being awarded the Australian Lawyers Alliance or ALA's 2018 Civil Justice Award. The award recognised Mr Collaery's work in fighting for justice for the people of Timor-Leste. ALA National President Ms Noor Blumer said Mr Collaery has spent many years advocating on behalf of the people of Timor-Leste and was legal adviser to the National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction in the critical period leading up to formal independence in 2002. Ms Blumer also said:

He has shown great courage and integrity in his dealings on behalf of the Timor-Leste people and more recently in acting for Witness K.

Whilst I won't reflect on matters that are before the courts, of course, and I don't have access to the information that the Commonwealth prosecutors do, I do want to acknowledge the ALA award to Mr Collaery, who, during his career, has also represented the victims of such Canberra disasters as the 2003 Canberra bushfires. He also argued for damages for the family of the deceased following the Royal Canberra Hospital implosion. Mr Collaery is a former attorney for the ACT, and I just wanted to acknowledge this ALA award. (Time expired)