The 2021 CLANT conference coincides with both a global pandemic that has seen an immediate reimagining around the practice and procedures of criminal law both home and abroad; and importantly it also coincides with the 30^th Anniversary of the final report of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. It took about30 days for the pandemic to create real change in the processes surrounding the manner we practice criminal law, yet in 30 years we have seen little change or meaningful improvement in access to justice for First Nations people. This conference looks to focus on what we can do to improve the criminal justice system, starting by looking in our own backyard.

We are happy to announce that given the financial implications of COVID, our full registration fee has been reduced to $1000 per delegate- all inclusive, and our group registration fee (for 10 or more) has been reduced to $950 per delegate! This updated information is on the Solusi website and all registration details for the conference are accessible at https://www.solusibs.com/

We are delighted to confirm a programme including:

·         Phillip Boulten SC, Forbes Chambers, NSW

Keynote address

·         Acting Justice Lex Lasry QC,  Supreme Court of Victoria

What does racial discrimination look like in Victoria and how can we change?

·         Justice Jenny Blokland, Supreme Court of the Northern Territory

In the Netherlands the gaols are running on empty. How has it happened?

·         Lloyd Babb SC, Director of Public Prosecutions NSW

A truth universally acknowledged – Prosecution disclosure

·         David Edwardson QC, Bar Chambers, SA

Lessons from the trial of Scott Douglas Austic

·         Stephen Lawrence, Black Chambers, NSW

Bassi v Commissioner of Police (The Sydney #blacklivesmatter protest case) – the right to protest and the Covid 19 response

·         Professor Dr Thalia Anthony, University of Technology Sydney

Homelessness in the NT and the vicious cycle of criminalisation

·         Nicole Spicer, Acting Managing Principal Solicitor, Victorian Government Solicitor’s Office

Victoria’s Truth & Justice Commission

·         Michelle Swift, Forbes Chambers NSW and Beth Wild, Managing Solicitor Top End Crime, NAAJA

A therapeutic approach to adjudicating domestic violence

·         Stephen Karpeles, Custody Notification Scheme Manager, NAAJA

“The Black Hole” – Why the Custody Notification Service is such an important development for Aboriginal people in police custody in the Northern Territory

·         Trevor Moses, William Forster Chambers, NT

Customary law and cultural practice in sentencing in the NT: Section 16AA of the Crimes Act 1914 (Cth)

·         Travis Jackson, Sir Owen Dixon Chambers, NSW

Judge-alone trials – A journey into the abyss or a modern approach to Criminal Law?

·         Steven Ledek, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, NT

Alleviating Aboriginal witness trauma and protecting best evidence in the interests of fairness and justice in the criminal courts of the NT

·         Lisa Parker, University of South Australia

Criminal Appeals Against Guilty Plea Convictions

·         Ben Grimes of ARDS Aboriginal Corporation

Linguistics v the Law: Can divergent approaches to s 85 of ENULA be reconciled?

·         Gabriel Chipkin, Victorian Legal Aid

‘Turning the tables’: Defence tendency applications in criminal litigation

·         Julianna Marshall, Manager of Policy and Education, CAWLS

Coercive control in the context of the NT

·         Bali Players, Trial of Andrew Ballard [NOT], written and directed by Rex Wild QC

·         Guest Panellists: including George Georgiou CCJ (Victoria), Dina Yehia DCJ (NSW), David Woodroffe (PLO, NAAJA)

PLUS: Larrakia / Darwin Legal History and Cultural Tour, conducted by Richie Fejo, James Parfitt (Fejo), Don Christophersen and John  Rawnsley (separate booking required)

The dates for our conference coincide with the Darwin Festival and our dry season so Festival Park will be a must visit for food, drinks and entertainment in the evenings.

Given it is Darwin’s peak tourist season securing your accommodation booking as soon as possible is a must. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact myself and Dee Berkley (dee@solusibs.com).

For families travelling there are a number of activities within walking distance of the Conference including:

·         The Wave Lagoon Wave Lagoon, safe swimming for all ages | Darwin Waterfront Precinct

·         Waterfront Precinct – cafes, restaurants, lagoon area Map and directory – food, drink, hotels | Darwin Waterfront Precinct

·         Aquapark  Darwin Waterfront Precinct | food, shopping and events

·         Stokes Hill Wharf (eateries, restaurants and departure point for Jet Ski tours, fishing and sunset tours) Stokes Hill Wharf dinning and sunset views | Darwin Waterfront Precinct

·         The Deck Chair Cinema – Darwin’s legendary open air cinema  Deckchair Cinema – movie times & tickets

·         Indo Pacific Marine Indo Pacific Marine

·         WWII Oil Storage Tunnels Tour WHAT TO DO IN DARWIN TODAY WWII TUNNELS | DARWIN MUST SEE AND DO – Things to do in Darwin (ww2tunnelsdarwin.com.au)

·         PLUS our Courts, Parliament House, Government House, Art galleries, amazing coffee, food and tour departure points are only a short walk away.  Hit up a local for Darwin ‘must see and do’s’

Our conference has never been held in Darwin before and we look forward to welcoming practitioners, judicial officers and key stakeholders to our home.

These conference dates coincide with the annual Darwin Festival and we anticipate many opportunities for learning as well as leisure and recreation.

Please forward this email to colleagues, contacts and networks who may be interested in attending.

Register here. If you have any further questions or issues please contact Dee Berkely via Dee@solusibs.com or 0437 710 090.

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* I’ve been doing images for CLANT since 1997, and the Dingo has always been a feature as a symbol of “defending the unrepresented accused”. This time a bit different–all but one of their previous conferences have been held in Bali. For those, I have always used the Frangipani, the floral emblem of Bali. Coincidentally, last year, the city of Darwin “rediscovered” after 54 years its floral emblem was Brachychiton Megaphyllus, or the Red Kurrajong. Thus, a different flower for this year’s conference!  (Chips Mackinolty)