Droppert, Graham --- "President's page: Our fight for justice still vital" [2022] PrecedentAULA 25; (2022) 170 Precedent 3

• Finally, my reflection for all of you. Your passion for justice and the rights of the individual means that together we can make 2022–23 another outstanding year in the ALA’s history.

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OUR FIGHT FOR JUSTICE STILL VITAL

By Graham Droppert SC

Almost two years ago I wrote my first President’s Page noting that I come from the lands of the Whadjuk people of the Noongar nation, and paying my respects to the Elders past, present and emerging of all of the First Nations peoples of Australia. I acknowledge this again today.

I am proud of what has been achieved in this difficult pandemic period.

The Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) has continued to lobby powerfully for the interests of our members and their clients and for those without a voice.

We are actively implementing our Reconciliation Action Plan. There is more to be done but the commitment is strong.

In 2020, the ALA adopted for the first time a policy on recognising and supporting the role of women in the law, titled Australian Lawyer’s Alliance’s Commitment to Gender Equality in the Legal Profession. Soon after that we became vocal proponents for accountability on sexual assault, harassment and bullying within the legal profession, including the judiciary.

As I step down as National President I am very pleased that more than half of the ALA’s members, and of our Branch Presidents and National Council Directors, are women. My successor Genevieve Henderson will continue the fine tradition of leadership by the women in the ALA.

The questions about unequal opportunities and discrimination in the profession and in society remain as relevant as ever. This edition of Precedent keeps gender squarely on the agenda, with articles on the impacts on women of bail laws; paid family and domestic violence leave; the superannuation gender gap; limited access to justice for victims of violence, and sexual harassment in the legal profession. Other articles cover issues for transgender (trans) athletes and youth seeking gender-affirming treatment.

The current political cycle has highlighted and heightened some of the tensions around these issues. Indeed, we may be at one of the most critical junctures in modern history regarding gender.

Patriarchy assumes that everyone will keep to their assigned gender roles while concentrating agency in the hands of white men. The #MeToo movement challenged these power structures by refuting the idea that men can expect to exploit women’s bodies and hold women in sexual servitude. Notions of active consent are also now taking centre stage.

This change has not come without a backlash. With patriarchal power structures fearing loss of control, conservative attention is being focused on a new, vulnerable group – people who identify as trans and, in particular, trans children. The rate at which trans youth consider suicide – more than 50 per cent – is a cause of great concern.

If we are truly ‘dedicated to protecting and promoting justice, freedom and the rights of the individual’, in my opinion we need to contemplate how we can best include and support trans people. Gender issues matter right now, not just as a way of highlighting exclusion or reifying traditional notions of masculinity and femininity by reference to biological assignation, but because it is through inclusion and compassion that true equality can be achieved.

In July 2020 I expressed the hope of joining with you at the National Conference. COVID-19 had other plans, so this remains my wish for October 2022.

That the ALA has been so resilient over the last two years is due to both the outstanding work of the staff and the commitment of members, office bearers and supporters. I thank you all for making my role such a pleasurable and rewarding one.

In closing: I salute Peter Gibson, who stood down as President-Elect for health reasons; he remains a true champion of the ALA and its causes. Genevieve Henderson will become the National President on 1 July 2022 and is the right person to provide unifying and energetic leadership as we all resume a greater level of in-person engagement. I wish her a great time as President.

Finally, my reflection for all of you. Your passion for justice and the rights of the individual means that together we can make 2022–23 another outstanding year in the ALA’s history.

Graham Droppert SC is a barrister practising from Albert Wolff Chambers, Perth, specialising in personal injury. PHONE [phone]. EMAIL [e-mail].