Events Archive
For upcoming events, please visit the News & Events and State Chapter pages.
Chapter Seminars
For a history of state chapter seminars see the State Chapter pages:
Annual meeting of the International Association of Labour Law Journals
The Annual Meeting of the International Association of Labour Law Journals was held in Sydney on Sunday 30 and Monday 31 August 2009.
On 30 August, a Workshop was held on the theme: 'Labour and Social Aspects of the Global Economic Crisis'. Papers were presented by Australian and international scholars, as well as doctoral students. Please refer to the Call For Papers pubished in (2008) 21(2) Australian Journal of Labour Law 115.
On 31 August, the business meeting of the journal editors was held.
Further details about the Annual meeting can be obtained by emailing: anthony.forsyth@buseco.monash.edu.au
International Society for Labour and Social Security Law XIXth World Congress
ALLA’s affiliation with the ISLSSL means that ALLA members have opportunities to become involved in the World Congress, Regional Congresses, and Study Groups of ISLSSL.
The Australian Labour Law Association hosted the 19th ISLSSL World Congress in Sydney from 1-4 September 2009.
As always, the Congress was an exciting event, with keynote speakers from around the world including Carlos Hernandez, Antoine Jeammaud, Gillian Lester and Rosemary Owens.
The three themes for the 2009 World Congress were:
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Theme 1: Regulatory frameworks and law enforcement in new forms of employment
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Theme 2: Workers’ Representation and social dialogue at the workplace level
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Theme 3: Emerging patterns of social protection in light of structural changes (ageing population, changing family structures, immigration, budgetary constraints, political and ideological realignments)
There was also a ‘roundtable’ session on Work and Family Life, and a workshop on what is new in labour law.
Australian Labour Law Association Fourth Biennial Conference
The Australian Labour Law Association (ALLA) held its 4th Biennial Conferenceon Friday 14 and Saturday 15 November 2008 at Rydges Hotel, 186 Exhibition Street . The conference examined the implications for the workplace of past and proposed legislative reforms to labour laws under the general theme Labour Law under a Labor Government: A New Balance in the Workplace? The Conference was an outstanding success.
Featuring over 30 stimulating presentations, the Conference offered delegates variety, depth and expertise. More than 170 delegates registered for the conference. Attendees enjoyed provocative speeches, and were fortunate enough to hear new announcements about the Fair Work Bill first hand, with a speech given by Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
Throughout the day delegates were given the choice of three or four Concurrent Sessions, ensuring that attendees could pursue presentations that were engaging and relevant to themselves and their work.
Another highlight of the Conference was the Conference dinner, with an entertaining speech by guest speaker Mark Skulley, journalist with the Australian Financial Review. The conference dinner was preceded by the launch of ALLA Secretary John Howe’s new book Regulating for Job Creation(Federation Press 2008) by Federal Minister for Employment Participation, the Hon Brendan O’Connor.
The Conference also marked the first presentation of the Annual Phillipa Weeks Prize. An ALLA initiative, the Phillipa Weeks Prize honours Phillipa’s outstanding contribution to ALLA, and to teaching and scholarship in labour law more generally. The Prize is awarded for the best paper presented at the ALLA Conference, chosen by a panel consisting of Shae McCrystal, Anthony Forsyth and Peter Punch. Congratulations to the winners of this special prize, Mark Mourell and Craig Cameron of Griffith University, Queensland, for their paper ‘Neither Simple nor Fair: Prohibiting Legal Representation Before Fair Work Australia’.
For further information visit www.alla2008.org
2008 Labour Law Teaching Workshop - 13 November
The 2008 Labour Law Teaching Workshop provided a forum for teachers of labour law subjects, broadly construed to include employment law and industrial law (taught to both law and non-law students) to come together in a collegial environment and discuss the challenging questions we face in our teaching, such as:
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Which text best suits my students learning needs and styles?
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How should I structure the syllabus?
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What innovative forms of assessment have other teachers used?
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How can I best engage my students in current debates and issues?
The workshop was sponsored by the Centre for Employment and Labour Relations Law, Melbourne Law School, University of Melbourne and ALLA.
Chapter Seminars
For a history of state chapter seminars see the State Chapter pages:
Chapter Seminars
ACT
May 30 2007
Professor Andrew Stewart (Flinders University of South Australia) discussed the topic Work Choices: What Comes Next at the ANU College of Law.
May 3 2007
Professor Harry Glasbeek, Professor Emeritus and Senior Scholar at Osgoode Hall Law School, presented a seminar on the topic Choosing the Corporation - A Corporate Lawyer Looks at Work Choices.February 13 2007
Professor Tatiana Zykina presented on the topic Labour Law and Lawyers in Russia.
NSW
March 7 2007
Mr Robert McClelland discussed the ALP's IR policy for the forthcoming Federal election.
SA
June 19 2007
Dr Anthony Forsyth discussed the topic Which Way Forward for Dispute Resolution: 'Work Choices' or 'Fair Work Australia'
VIC
April 4 2007
Associate Professor Bill Hodge addressed the topic Bargaining in Good Faith: Lessons from the New Zealand Experience for Australia.
3rd Biennial Conference
ALLA's third biennial conference was held in Brisbane on 22-23 September 2006, with the theme The Challenge of Contemporary Labour Law: New Directions and Disciplines. This was another extremely succesful conference for ALLA, with over 100 delegates enjoying 4 keynote/gues speakers (including Professor Takashi Araki from the University of Tokyo, Japan) and 37 papers presented by academics, students and practitioners.
Chapter Seminars
NSW
December 5 2006
After a series of succesful meetings throughout the course of 2006, the NSW State Chapter held its final meeting for the year, providing further opportunities for dialogue and discussion amongst members.
October 18 2006
The fourth Sydney Forum of ALLA was held at the University of Sydney Law School. As well as general dialogue amongst membesr, Jim Nolan presented a report on some recent case law developments at the AIRC; and Clive Thompson presented a detailed analysis of the alternative dispute resolution provisions in the WorkChoices legislation.
May 31 2006
Dr John Howe spoke on the topic of 'Light Touch' Labour Regulations as a State Government Response to WorkChoices.
May 13 2006
Professor Keith Ewing from The University of London discussed Recent Developments in British Labour Law: Lessons for Australia.
SA
December 2006
The SA Chapter of ALLA together with the Australian Association of Constitutional Law presented a joint seminar to discuss the High Court's Decision: Work Choices [2006] HCA.
April 2006
Dr Joellen Riley spoke on the topic Common Law Collective Agreements After 'Work Choices' - Where to Now?.
VIC
May 4 2006
Mr Tim Lee spoke on the topic of Work Choices and Victorian Employers and Employees.
WA
June 13 2006
Chief Commissioner Tony Beech (WAIRC) discussed WA IR After Work Choices.
The Association held the Annual General Meeting for 2005 on 14 November 2005. Please click here to view the minutes.
2nd National Conference
The 2nd National Conference of the Australian Labour Law Association was held at the University of Sydney on 24 -25 September 2004 under the name of 'Employment Regulation for the Changing Workplace'. To view the conference program, click here.
Chapter Seminars
For a history of state chapter seminars see the State Chapter pages:
Special General Meeting
On 12 February 2002, the Australian Labour Law Association held a Special General Meeting followed by an ordinary committee meeting. The purpose of this meeting was to amend two sections of the rules of the Australian Labour Law Association so as to clarify the non-profit objectives of the Association. For further information, please view the AGM Minutes 2002.pdf.
The Association's Inaugural Conference 'Practising Labour Law in the New Economy' was held on 4-5 October 2002 at the University of Melbourne's Law School.
- The Keynote Address by Professor Joanne Conaghan, University of Kent at Canterbury, U.K. entitled 'Labour Law and New Economy Discourse'.
- The Dinner Address on work and family issues, including the debate over paid maternity leave by Sex Discrimination Commissioner Pru Goward.
- The launch, by Justice Peter Gray of the Federal Court of Australia of 'Law and Labour Market Regulation in East Asia' edited by Sean Cooney, Tim Lindsey, Richard Mitchell and Zhu Ying.
- Papers given by academics and practitioners on a wide range of issues, including workplace information and communication technology, the growing 'contingent' workforce, unfair dismissal and employment protection, and the growing interaction between labour law and corporate law.
For further information about the conference program, please view Inaugural Conference Brochure.
NSW Chapter Inaugural Meeting
The Honourable Justice F L Wright, President of the Industrial Relations Commission spoke at the Inaugural Meeting of the NSW Chapter. The topic of his paper was '2002: The Centenary of the Industrial Relations Commission of NSW'. Refer to the State Chapters page for a report on this event.
First AGM and Justice Giudice’s Address
ALLA's first Annual General Meeting was held on Wednesday 14 November 2001, at the Chambers Westgarth offices in Melbourne. The meeting was well attended, with around fifty people in attendance. The minutes of the meeting (including results of the election of officers and ordinary members of the Committee of Management, conducted on the evening) are now available from the Centre administrator as well as an up to date financial statements of the association's accounts, as presented by the Interim Treasurer, Ms Samantha Kennedy.
Second AGM and Secretary’s Report 2001-02
ALLA's second Annual General Meeting was held at the conclusion of the Inaugural National Conference on Saturday 5 October 2002. The minutes of the meeting and the Secretary’s Report and annual accounts (Accounts for the Financial year - 1 July 2001 to 30 June 2002; and from 1 July 2002 to 30 September 2002) of the Association presented to the AGM, are available by contacting the Centre administrator.
Official Launch
Justice Michael Kirby of the High Court of Australia officially launched the Association on Wednesday 18 July 2001 at Victoria's Parliament House in Melbourne.
The launch was attended by approximately 100 members. Other speakers at the launch were The Honourable Monica Gould (Victorian Minister for Industrial Relations), Professor Richard Mitchell (ALLA's interim vice-president) and The Honourable Jeff Shaw (former Attorney General of NSW).
In his speech, Justice Kirby argued that there is still an important role for an industrial relations 'safety net' in Australia, and for arbitral bodies like the Australian Industrial Relations Commission to resolve disputes that cannot be resolved in common law courts. Wile there have been many changes to the traditional conciliation and arbitration system in recent years, Justice Kirby suggested that 'it is much too early to write the obituaries of industrial relations tribunals in Australia'.
NB* The document on this page is in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. If you are unable to view the document, please download and install a copy of Acrobat Reader
ISLSSL World Congress of Labour Law
The International Society for Labour and Society Security Law's World Congress of Labour Law was held in Paris in 2006. ALLA was represented at the World Congress and the meeting of the ISLSSL Executive Committee by ALLA President Ron McCallum and ALLA Secretary John Howe. Several other ALLA members were among the over 1,000 delegates from around the world who attended the conference.