The 2010 Voiceless Animal Law Lecture Series was the biggest in the Series' four-year history, taking in 12 venues across the country in a record-breaking 10 days. Supported by law firms, universities and legal professional associations, the lectures were attended by a distinguished array of guests, including judicial officers, legal practitioners and scholars, local, state and federal politicians, members of the public and budding animal lawyers.

Our special guest speaker was leading US animal lawyer, co-founder and General Counsel for the Animal Legal Defense Fund, Joyce Tischler. Widely regarded as the ‘mother of the animal law movement’, Tischler gave an inspiring talk about what has been learned in the continuing US effort to protect animals through the law, how that shapes the current focus and how the American experience applies to the development of animal law in Australia.

At the Keynote Address, Australia’s latest animal law text book was launched by Her Excellency, Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO. The book, Animal Law in Australia and New Zealand, by Deborah Cao et al, aims to further establish animal law as an independent branch of legal study in these countries.

For those who couldn’t attend this year’s lecture, Joyce, the Lecture Series and the animal law movement received extensive media coverage. To view a selection of articles please visit our media page.

We would like to thank all of our speakers for their participation, which ensured that this year’s Lecture Series a great success:

• David Crocker: Barrister, Torrens Chambers (SA)
• Dr. Maike Dorn: BSc BVMS (Hons) LLB (Hons)
• Joana Fuller: Barrister, Bar Chambers (SA)
• Tracy-Lynne Geysen: Principal of TLG Lawyers (Family & Animal Law) and founding member of BLEATS (QLD)
• Anthony Karsteadt: Barrister, Francis Burt Chambers (WA)
• Graeme McEwen: Chair, Barristers Animal Welfare Panel
  
• Graeme Page SC, Patron of BLEATS (QLD)
• Dr Melissa Perry QC: Barrister, Sixth Floor Selborne/Wentworth Chambers (NSW)
• Katrina Sharman, Corporate Counsel for Voiceless
• Ian Weldon: Barrister, Sir Clifford Grant Chambers (WA)
• Steven White: Lecturer, Griffith Law School and animal law consultant, TLG Lawyers (QLD)

Special thanks also to our volunteers for their wonderful help and, of course, our hosts: The University of Sydney Law School, the ANU College of Law, Bond University Faculty of Law, Griffith Law School, Melbourne Law School, Murdoch Law School, Flinders Law School, Allens Arthur Robinson, Corrs Chambers Westgarth, Mallesons Stephen Jaques, Minter Ellison Lawyers and the Law Society of South Australia.

Click here to read a transcript of Joyce Tischler’s keynote address and view the accompanying slide show. Click here to read Griffith Law School’s Acting Dean Professor William MacNeil’s opening remarks.

Choose a video segment to view:

Brian Sherman AM

Her Excellency the Governor of NSW The Hon Professor Marie Bashir AC, CVO

Katrina Sharman Welcomes Joyce Tischler

Joyce Tischler Animal Legal Defense Fund

Dr Melissa Perry QC

Q&A Panel with Joyce Tischler and Dr Melissa Perry QC

Click here to listen to the Lecture Series event at Murdoch Law School in Perth, including the panel discussion with Dr Maike Dorn, Ian Weldon and Joyce Tischler.

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Voiceless’s 2010 Animal Law Lecture Series is proudly supported by the following organisations:

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