NADRAC Notes Issue 1

NADRAC

Quarterly Newsletter

IssueNo. 1 1997

Contribution to ‘NADRAC Notes’

by Federal Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Daryl Williams, AM QC MP

Itgivesmegreatpleasureto contributetotheNational Alternative Dispute Resolution Advisory Council’s(NADRAC’s) inaugural newsletter,

‘NADRACNotes’.

Theuse ofAlternative DisputeResolution(ADR), particularly mediation services,has grownrapidlyin recenttimes.ADRisnowa significantfeatureofthe Australianjusticesystem, andfederal courtsand tribunals areincreasingly referringmatterstoADRas ameansofavoidingthecosts andtheacrimonyoften associated with more

traditionalmeansofdisputeresolution.Iwholeheartedlysupportthis.

Inthiscompetitiveenvironment,IbelieveitisimportanttoensurethatADR servicesare efficient,ofconsistent quality,andprovideeconomicandefficient mechanismsforresolvingdisputes.

Consistentwiththis,NADRACischargedwiththeimportanttaskof providingtheCommonwealthGovernmentwithindependent,coordinated andconsistentpolicy adviceonthedevelopmentofhigh qualityandeconomic ADRservices.

TheCouncilhasalreadyprovidedtheGovernmentwithadvice onanumber ofimportantADRissuesandiscurrentlyconsideringarangeofother significantissuesonwhichitwillreporttomelaterthisyear.

TheCouncilhasabroadmembership.Itcomprisesmemberswithjudicial andquasi-judicialexpertise,thosewithcommercialarbitrationandmediation experience,aswellascommunitymediators.NADRACisthereforeuniquely placedtoconsolidateandcoordinatethedevelopmentofADRstandards within thefederalarena.

Ibelievethat‘NADRACNotes’willbeausefulvehicleforairingissuesrelating todisputeresolutioninAustralia.Ilookforwardtocontinuingtoworkwith theCouncil.

DarylWilliams

TheNationalDisputeResolutionAdvisoryCouncil(NADRAC)was establishedin 1995 toadvisetheFederalAttorney-General onhigh quality,economicandefficientwaysofresolvingdisputeswithout theneedforajudicialdecision.

LtoRback:SusanGribben,JenniferDavid,ColinNeave(retired),JosephineTiddy,PhilipTheobald,Oscar Shub,KurtNoble.LtoRfront:WendyFaulkes,DrGregoryTillett,ProfessorHilaryAstor(Chairperson), AssociateProfessorGayClarke,MagdelineFadjiarandTheHonJusticeMushin.Absent:QuentinBryce.

NADRAC Members

TheinauguralmembersofNADRAChavebeenappointedfortwoyearsending on30October1997. AppointedtotheCouncilintheir individualratherthan theirrepresentativecapacities,Councilmembers haveaverybroadrange of experiencein thedisputeresolutionarea.

MembersoftheCouncilfor1995 -1997 are:

ProfessorHilary Astor(NSW)Chairperson

ProfessorofLaw,UniversityofSydney;co-authoredoneoftheprimarytextson disputeresolutioninAustraliaandhaspublishedanumberofarticlesonalternative disputeresolutionissues;ProfessorAstorhasaparticularinterestintheimpactof alternativedisputeresolutionprocessesonwomen.

QuentinBryce(QLD)

HumanRightslawyer;newlyappointed PrincipalofWomen’sCollege,Sydney University;ChairandChiefExecutiveOfficer,NationalChildcareAccreditation Council 1993-1996;FederalSexDiscriminationCommissioner1988-1993. Extensiveexperienceincomplainthandling;longbackgroundinadvocacyfor childrenandequalityofopportunityforwomeningovernmentandnon- governmentorganisationsatinternationalandnationallevelandhaspublished broadlyin thesefields.

AssociateProfessorGayClarke(QLD)

AssociateProfessor,DirectorofTeachingand Learning,FacultyofLawQueensland UniversityofTechnology;hasextensiveteachingexperienceinmediationandnegotiation skills andhaspublishednumerousarticlesonalternativedisputeresolution;mediator withtheQueenslandBuildingTribunal;DirectoroftheAustralianCommercialDispute Centre(QLD);amemberoftheADRCommitteeoftheQueenslandLawSociety andamember oftheDisputeResolutionCouncil(QLD).

JenniferDavid (NSW)

FormerlyFreehillHollingdaleandPageProfessorofDisputeResolution,Centre forDisputeResolution,UniversityofTechnology,Sydney;has extensiveteaching experienceindisputeresolution;formerChiefExecutiveOfficerofLEADRand Manager,AustralianCommercialDisputesCentre;hascarriedoutnumerous consultanciesrelatedtodisputeresolutionanddisputesystemdesign,isapractising mediatorandhaspublishedbroadly in thefield.

MagdelineFadjiar(WA)

SeniorMemberoftheImmigrationReviewTribunal;formerlyanadvocateand solicitorofthe SupremeCourtofSingapore;admittedasaBarrister,Solicitorand ProctoroftheSupremeCourtofWesternAustralia. MemberoftheEqual OpportunityTribunalof WesternAustraliaandtheWestern AustralianChiefJustice’s Task ForceonGenderBiasintheJusticeSystem;formermemberofthemanagement committeeoftheWomen’sRefugeMulticulturalServicesofWesternAustralia.

WendyFaulkes(NSW)

Director,NSWCommunityJusticeCentres,hasbeen involvedinthemanagement ofNSWCommunityJusticeCentressince1980;awardedaChurchill Fellowship

in1982tostudymediationandcommunitybaseddisputeresolution intheUSA andUK;hasexperienceintheareasofcommunityand familymediation, Aboriginalfamilymediationandinsuranceindustrycomplaints.

SusanGribben(VIC)

ExecutiveDirectorRelationshipsAustralia(Victoria);formerDirectorof Family MediationService(RelationshipsAustralia);hasextensiveexperienceinrelationship counsellingandfamilymediationserviceprovisionandtraining.

TheHon JusticeNahum Mushin(VIC)

JudgeoftheFamilyCourt,Melbourne;Judgewithspecialresponsibilityformediation andhaspreviouslybeenaconsultanttotheALRConitsmatrimonialpropertyreference.

RichardMoss(ACT)

DeputySecretary,Attorney-General’sDepartment.MrMosshasbeenappointed bytheAttorney-General asanexofficiomemberoftheCouncil.

Kurt Noble (QLD)

AboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderMediationProjectOfficer,AlternativeDispute ResolutionDivision, QldDepartmentof JusticeandAttorney-General;apracticing mediatorand trainerspecialisingindisputeresolutionservicesforAboriginaland TorresStraitIslander communities.

OscarShub(WA)

PartnerAllenAllenHemsley;ConsultantParkerParker;accredited mediator onLEADR’sAdvancedPanelofMediators;ChairpersonNationalBoardof LEADR;expertisein thefieldoflargescaletechnicalandinsurancedisputes.

PhilipTheobald(QLD)

Barristerfrom QueenslandandChairoftheAustralianInstituteofFamilyLaw

ArbitratorsandMediators;practicingmediatorandarbitrator.

JosephineTiddy(SA)

Australia’slongestservingCommissionerfor EqualOpportunity,inSouthAustralia,

1980-1996;establishedthecomplaintsprocesstohandlediscriminationdisputes underStateandFederalEqualOpportunityandHumanRightslaws;has undertakenalargerange ofconsultanciesrelatingtodisputeresolutionand presentednumerouspapersontheimpactoflegislativelybasedresolution processes onwomen,peopleofdifferentracialandculturalbackgroundsandpeoplewith disabilities;practisingmediatorandconsultant.

Dr GregoryTillett(NSW)

SeniorResearchFellowinConflictResolution,UniversityofWesternSydney, Nepean;formerlyDirector,CentreforConflictResolution,MacquarieUniversity andConciliationOfficer,NSWAnti-DiscriminationBoard;publishedbroadlyin theareasofconflictresolutionanddiscrimination; expertiseinemployment,health, welfareandcommunitydisputes.

INTRODUCINGNADRAC

Notefromthe

Chairperson

MayIextendaverywarmwelcometoreadersofthisfirstedition of‘NADRACNotes’.

Thisyearwill beaveryexciting yearfor NADRACasour three substantivecommittees–theDefinitionsCommittee, theDiversity Committee andtheRegistration andAccreditationCommittee – areallexpectedtoproducesubstantialwrittenmaterial. Thereis everyindicationtoo,thattheadviceoftheCouncilwillcontinueto besoughtbytheFederalGovernmentonarangeofotherimportant issues.

Throughournewsletterwehopetokeepyoufullyinformedofour activities,andalso,toencourageyoutocontributeanythoughtsor commentsthatmight beusefultotheCouncilinitswork.

ProfessorHilaryAstor

Asthisisthefirsteditionof‘NADRACNotes’,itisappropriate todevote alittlespace tosomebackgroundinformationabout NADRAC,itsmembersanditswork.

NADRACwasestablishedin October1995. Ithasitsorigins inthe1994reportoftheSackvilleCommittee“AccesstoJustice- anActionPlan”whichclearlyrecognisedtheneedforanational advisorybodyonissuesrelatingtotheregulationandevalua- tionofADRprocessesandprocedures.

TheCouncilprovidesindependentadvicetotheFederal Attorney-General. Itisanon-statutorybodyappointedbythe Ministerandisprovided withresearchandadministrative supportbyasmallSecretariatlocatedintheCommonwealth Attorney-General’sDepartmentin Canberra.

NADRAC’sroleisperhapsbestreflectedinitsCharterwhich readsasfollows:

CHARTER
1TheNationalAlternativeDisputeResolutionandprivateandcommunitysectoragenciesfortheprovisionofhigh
AdvisoryCouncil(NADRAC)isanindependentadvisorycouncilqualityalternativedisputeresolutionservices;
chargedwithprovidingtheAttorney-Generalwithcoordinatedand•ethicalstandardsforpractitioners;
consistentpolicyadviceonthedevelopmentofhighquality,economic
andefficientwaysofresolvingdisputeswithouttheneedforajudicial•theroleoflawyersandotherprofessional advisersinalternative decision. disputeresolution;
2The issues on which NADRAC will advise will • legalandpracticalissuesarisingfromtheuseofalternativedispute includethefollowing: resolutionservices,suchastheliabilityorimmunityofpractitioners,
theenforceabilityofoutcomesandtheimplicationsofconfidentiality;
•minimumstandardsfortheprovisionofalternativedisputeresolutionand
services;
•minimumtrainingandqualificationrequirementsforalternative•theaccessibilityofalternativedisputeresolutionservices.
registrationandaccreditationofpractitionersanddisputeresolution4Attorney-GeneralonanymatterrelevanttotheCouncil’sCharter. disputeresolutionpractitioners, includingtheneed,ifany,for TheCouncilmaymakerecommendationsofitsownmotiontothe
organisations;Inaddition,theAttorney-Generalmay,fromtimetotime,referparticular
•appropriateprofessionaldisciplinarymechanisms;issuestotheCouncilforconsiderationandreport.
clientgroupsandforparticulartypesofdisputes;5onmatters relevantto itsCharterto anyCommonwealth,Stateand
•thesuitabilityofalternativedisputeresolutionprocessesforparticularAstheCouncil’stimeandresourcespermit,itmayprovidecomment
•thequality,effectivenessandaccountabilityofCommonwealth Territoryorprivateorganisationswithaninterestinalternativedispute alternativedisputeresolutionprograms; resolution. Acopy ofanysuchsubmissionmustbeprovidedtothe
•ongoingevaluationofthequality,integrity,accountabilityandAttorney-Generalassoonaspossibleafterthesubmissionisdispatched.
accessibilityofalternativedisputeresolutionservicesandprograms;6Inperformingitsfunctions,theCouncilwillconsultbroadlywith
•programstoenhancecommunityandbusinessawarenessofthealternativedispute resolutionorganisations, serviceprovidersand
availability,andbenefits,ofalternativedisputeresolutionservices;practitioners,courtsandtribunals,government,thelegalprofession,
•theneedfordatacollectionandresearchconcerningalternative educationalinstitutions,business,industryand consumergroups,and disputeresolutionandthemostcost-effectivemethodsofmeeting communityorganisationsaswellastheFamilyLaw CouncilandtheFamily thatneed;and ServicesCouncil, when appropriate.
•thedesirabilityandimplicationsoftheuseofalternativedispute 7The Council will develop a forward work plan, resolutionprocessestomanagecaseflowswithin courtsand includingreportingdates,foreachyearandprovideacopyofthat
tribunals.workplantotheAttorney-General.
3Inconsideringthequestionofminimumstandards,theCouncilwill TheCouncilwillprovidetheAttorney-Generalwithareportofits examinethefollowingissues: 8operations assoonaspossibleafter30 Juneeachyear.
•therespectiveresponsibilitiesofthecourtsandtribunals, government

AfullaccountoftheCouncil’sactivitiesfor the1995/96financialyearissetoutinthe Council’s AnnualReportwhich hasbeen circulatedwiththisnewsletter.TheCouncil madesubstantialprogresswithitswork programduringthisinauguralperiod.Asa result,arangeofsignificantwrittenmaterial islikelytobeproducedbytheCouncildur- ingthecourseofthisyear.

Budgetpermitting,theCouncilholdsfourtwo day Councilmeetingseachyear. Insofaras possible,thesemeetingshavebeenrotated betweendifferentcapitalcities toallow memberstoliaisewithADRpractitionersand organisationsindifferentjurisdictions.Todate, meetingshavebeenheldinCanberra,Brisbane, MelbourneandSydney.Thenextmeetingis tobeheld inSydneyon6 and7 March1997.

NADRAChasthreesubstantivecommittees whicharelookingat:

-thedefiningcharacteristicsofthevarious formsofADR;

-registrationandaccreditationof practitionersandserviceproviders;and

-thesuitabilityofADRprocessesfor particularclientgroupsandparticular typesofdisputes.

Additionally, theCouncilhas established severaladhoccommitteestoconsidermatters withinthescopeofitsCharterbutwhichare unrelatedtotheworkofthethreepermanent committees.Otheradhocprojectsare dealt withbytheCouncilasawhole.

Detailsofthework currentlybeingundertakenby eachofthestandingCommitteesare asfollows:

DefinitionsCommittee

ThisCommitteeisworkingonapapersetting outbenchmarkdefinitionsofkeyADR processeswhichwillfacilitateclarityand enableready comparisonstobemade, regardlessoftherangeofnameswhichare presentlyusedforADRprocesses.Amore detailedsetofdefinitions,representingsuch variationsonthekeyprocessesasaretobe foundinpractice,isalsoto bedeveloped.

Whiletheprimaryintentionistoclarifythe meaning of particular terms used by NADRACandtoensure thatthereis a consistentusageoftheseterms byCouncil members,theCouncilalsobelievesthatits workwillbeuseful,moregenerally,toADR serviceprovidersandconsumers.

Itis proposedtopublishthepaperfor circulation to interested ADR serviceprovidersandconsumersin theearlypartof thisyear.

TheRegistrationand

AccreditationCommittee

ThisCommitteeisexaminingtheneed,ifany, forregistration andaccreditationofmediators and mediationorganisations,minimumstan- dards andminimumtrainingandqualific- ationrequirements,compliancemechanisms andtherespectiveresponsibilitiesofthecourts and tribunals,governmentand/orprivateand community sectoragenciesforsuch matters.

Overthepast10months,theCommitteehas consultedbroadlywithADRorganisations andserviceprovidersandpractitioners,courts andtribunals,consumergroupsandcomm- unityorganisationsinallAustralianStatesand Territories. Inaddition toenabling Committeememberstotest reactions andto gatherinformationfrompractisingmediators andmediationexpertsatthelocallevel,the sessions have provedmostsuccessful in informinglocalstakeholdersaboutNADRAC andprovidingavenueforlocalADR communities tomeetandexchange information.

TheCommitteewillutilisetheinformation obtained at thesesessionsto preparea DiscussionPaperfordisseminationinmid

1997.TheresponsestotheDiscussionPaper willthenbetakenintoaccountinpreparing

adraft reportforconsiderationbytheCoun- ciland,ifapproved,subsequentpresentation totheAttorney-General inlate1997.

TheDiversityCommittee

ThisCommitteeiscurrentlyworkingona DiscussionPapercanvassing areasofdifferencebetweenclientgroupswhichcan affectthefairnessofADRproceduresand outcome,factorswithinparticulardispute resolutionprocesseswhichcanaffectthe fairnessandsuitabilityofthoseprocessesfor particularclient groupsanddisputes,and appropriatestandardsfortheprovision of ADRservicesinthecontextofthediversity ofclientneedsandADRprocesses.

Theinteractionofgender,culture,sexuality, disability,age,geographyand socio-economic factorswithADRisbeingconsideredinthis context.

TheCommitteehopestocompleteitsworkon theDiscussion Paperinearly1997.Itwillthen circulatethepapertointerestedpartiesfor commentbeforereportingtotheAttorney- Generalinlate1997.

AdHocWork andCommittees

Sinceitsinception, NADRAC hasbeen

involvedinaverywide rangeofadhocwork. TheCouncilhasrecentlyreceivedrequests

fromtheAttorney-Generaltocommenton

the proposed restructure of the CommonwealthFamilyServicesProgram outlinedinhisspeechof15October1996to

theNationalPressClub,anduponmandatory referraltomediationintheFederalCourt, focussingparticularly onwhenreferralis

appropriate andwhetherthemediation shouldbeinorout ofcourt.

TheCouncilisalsoliaising withtheAustralianLawReformCommissioninits ReviewoftheAdversarialSystemofLitigation, andtheAttorney-General’sDepartment has recentlysoughtNADRAC’sinputintopro- posed interimarrangementsfortheauthorisationoffamilyandchildcounsellors undertheFamilyLawAct.

Earlierthisyear,atveryshortnotice, NADRACprovidedcommentsto the Attorney-General’s Department onthe proposedFamilyLawMediationRegulations. Mostrecently,attherequestoftheAttorney- General,theCouncilispreparingareportto himontheoperationoftheRegulationssince theircommencementon11June1996. In viewofthecomplexityoftheissuesunder consideration,theCouncil’s reporttothe Attorney-General,originallyscheduledtobe madeinearlyDecember1996, willnowbe madeinearlyMarch1997.

Duringtheyear,theCouncilalsoresponded toarequest fromtheAttorney-General’s Departmentforcommentonexcerptsofthe AustralianLawReformCommission’sIssues Paper16andthedraftReportarisingfrom its referenceonComplaintsagainsttheAFP andNCA.TheCouncilalsomadeadetailed writtensubmissiontotheHouseofRepres- entativesStandingCommitteeonLegaland Constitutional AffairsInquiryintoAspects ofFamilyServicesandtheCouncil’sChair- personappearedbeforetheInquiryhearings inSydney.

Finally,theCouncilcommentedonthePrime MinisterialYouthHomelessTaskForce’sfirst report:FrameworkforYouthHomelessness Pilot Programme,andwiththeAttorney- General’sapproval,madeasubmissiontothe NSWandQueenslandLawReformCom- missionsinrelationtotheirreferenceon uniformsuccessionlaws. Commentswere alsoprovidedtotheFederalBureauof ConsumerAffairs onBenchmarksfor Industry-BasedCustomerDisputeResolution Schemes,and upon draftPrinciplesand GuidelinesforDevelopingaServiceCharter.

BringingMatterstothe

AttentionoftheCouncil

Shouldyouwishto bringany thoughts orissuestotheCouncil’s attention,youshould writeinthe firstinstanceto:

TheDirectorNADRACSecretariatRobert GarranOffices NationalCircuit BARTONACT2600

LiaisonwithotherBodies InresponsetoasuggestionfromtheADR CommitteeoftheLaw Councilof Australia,theCouncildecidedatits meetingon5and6December1996that anongoingexchangeofinformation wouldbeusefultotheworkofboth bodies, andthatthisshouldbeachieved throughtheregularexchangeofmeeting agendas.

The Council agreedthat similar exchangesofinformationcouldalso

Mailinglist

Themailing listforthisissueof‘NADRACNotes’ hasbeen compiledbytheCouncil’sSecretariat.Itisproposedthatcopies ofotherpublicationspreparedbytheCouncil,andapprovedfor circulationbytheAttorney-General,willbedistributedtopeople ontheCouncil’s mailinglist.

Ifyouarenotinterestedinreceivinganyfurthermaterialfrom NADRAC,orif youwouldlikeyourorganisationadded tothe mailinglistpleaseadvise:

TheAdministrativeOfficer NADRACSecretariat RobertGarranOffices

Ph: (06)250 6897

Fax:(06)250 5904

usefullybeundertakenwithotherpeak

nationalADRbodies.

NationalCircuit

BARTON ACT2600

Ph:(06)250 6842

Fax:(06)250 5904