Reforming the law: Parliament and the courts

This panel discussion, featuring members of parliament and the Victorian courts, will focus on the process of law reform from both the perspective of parliament and the courts. The discussion will consider the reasons for law reform, including influences from media, the public and advocacy groups, and what perspectives are taken into account when reforming the law. The panel will explore the relationship between law reform and the legislative process, and the consequences that must be considered.  

This session is suited to:

• Teachers and students of
  VCE Legal Studies and Sociology 
• Humanities teachers 
• Pre-service teachers 
• Tertiary law students  

Presented by the Parliament of Victoria in partnership with the Victoria Law Foundation.

Panellists

The Hon. Justice Michelle Quigley QC

Supreme Court of Victoria 

In December 2017, Justice Michelle Quigley QC was appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria. Justice Quigley was subsequently appointed as the President of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) from 1 June 2018. Her Honour is the first woman to hold that position.

On commencing at the Victorian Bar in 1988 Justice Quigley developed a strong practice in administrative law, including planning and environmental law and land valuation and acquisition. Her Honour took silk in 2002. She taught Planning Law at the University of Melbourne as a visiting lecturer from 1994 to 2006.

Brad Rowswell MP

Member for Sandringham,
Legislative Assembly

Brad Rowswell MP was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly in November 2018, representing the seat of Sandringham. He serves as the Deputy Chair of the Integrity and Oversight Committee, which is responsible for monitoring and reviewing the performance of the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission, the Victorian Ombudsman, the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner, and the Victorian Inspectorate. Mr Rowswell has also served as Liberal Party Whip in the Legislative Assembly since September 2021.

Andrew Young

Clerk of the Legislative Council
and Clerk of the Parliaments

Andrew was appointed to the position of Acting Clerk of the Legislative Council, Parliament of Victoria, in 2014. He assumed full appointment as Clerk in July 2015. The Clerk performs the role of principal adviser to the President and members of the Council and is the chief executive of the department of the Legislative Council. In August 2017, Andrew was sworn in as Acting Clerk of the Parliaments (Victoria), and assumed the full appointment on 5 January 2019.

Andrew has served as Honorary Secretary of the Australian Study of Parliament Group (Victorian Chapter), President of the Australian and New Zealand Association of Clerks-at-the-Table (ANZACATT) from January 2016 to January 2018, and in October 2017 was appointed Honorary Secretary of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Victoria Branch.