Opening remarks: National Access to Justice and Pro Bono Conference

Speech delivered by Mr Luke Murphy, Law Council of Australia President at the 2023 National Access to Justice and Pro Bono Conference in Brisbane, 22 June 2023.

“It is a great privilege for me to make the opening remarks at the 2023 National Access to Justice and Pro Bono Conference. This is the first time the Conference has been held since March 2019 and I would like to thank everyone from the Conference Organising Committee, the Queensland Law Society, Australian Pro Bono Centre and my team at the Law Council of Australia for organising this critically important event and reuniting us once again.

There is a quote from Archbishop Desmond Tutu that I would like to share with you. I think it succinctly explains the reason we have come together this week and why we cannot ever be deterred from the fight we take on everyday:

“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse, and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.”

I think one of the greatest injustices we face as a nation centres around equal access to our legal system.

I believe the fact you have come together at this conference means that you agree that we can do better.  That access to justice should not be reliant on economic status.”

Read the full speech below.

Last Updated on 07/12/2023

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