25 January 2019
You may have noticed some media lately about buying real estate “off the plan”. I urge all conveyancing lawyers to ensure that their clients understand any special conditions that allow for delay, alteration of the final built result, and the seller’s rights of rescission. If you have any questions on this topic, please feel free to email the Law Society. Also remember that there will be a Property Law Afternoon on Thursday 28 March 2019, at The Boathouse by the Lake – this is a great opportunity to discuss current property law issues with your peers.
I recently had the pleasure of meeting with the Chief Public Attorney of the Philippines, Dr Persida V Rueda-Acosta, who was in Australia for a very short time, and keen to make contact with Australian lawyers. Her country has one legislative and judicial system, with the population spread over 7,200 inhabited islands. Her concern about crime, particularly narcotics, is very real, and her personal safety always at risk. Our own challenges in the ACT to ensure justice and the rule of law seem small compared to hers.
In the December Ethos I said that I expected to meet with JACS to discuss plans for re-instatement of the heritage timbers into Courtroom One with a view to retaining a large part of the look and feel of the original. Unfortunately that meeting did not occur. I have since been told that “the project architects are of the opinion that any attempt to retro-fit original timbers into the court would substantially compromise the contemporary designs, and would be viewed as a clumsy and tokenistic afterthought” and that “changing the design at this stage is not an option that can be recommended”. I am naturally disappointed by this decision, but will continue to lobby for a satisfactory conclusion.
I trust you all had a very good end of year break, and are now ready willing and able to pick up and continue with all the loose ends from last year, and take on new challenges.
Chris Donohue President, ACT Law Society