INDIGENOUS BARRISTERS' TRUST FUNDRAISER

On Wednesday, 13 April 2005 a cocktail party to raise funds for the Indigenous Barristers Trust (The Mum Shirl Fund) was held at Sydney's Sky Phoenix restaurant. More than 150 guests attended, including the patron of the trust, the Hon Sir Gerard Brennan AC KBE, Attorney General Bob Debus, and the Hon Dr Andrew Refshauge MP, Deputy Premier and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs . The highlight of the evening was a heartfelt and insightful speech by Noel Pearson, in which he expressed a view that the decision in Mabo had been misunderstood by the community and that an opportunity for attitudinal change towards native title had been lost. He also raised concerns that the Native Title Act had been interpreted by courts in a way that diminished Indigenous land rights. Guests were also treated to the premiere of a promotional DVD about the Indigenous Barristers' Trust, which will soon be available on the Bar Association's web site.

The trust was established in 2001, during the presidency of Ruth McColl SC, to help Indigenous lawyers overcome serious financial impediments to practising at the Bar. After a protracted dispute with the Australian Taxation Office, the trust was endorsed as a deductible gift recipient in mid-2004. This allowed the Indigenous Barristers Working Party, chaired by Chris Ronalds SC, to begin fundraising in earnest. In December last year, the 2004 senior counsel together donated $40,000. A promotional video, which explains the history and role of the trust fund may be downloaded in formats which use the following media players (which may be downloaded free of charge):