Brian Walters
Encyclopedia
Brian Walters SC is a prominent Melbourne barrister
and human rights advocate. Brian was the Australian Greens
candidate for the state seat of Melbourne
in the 2010 Victorian state election
.
, Carey Baptist Grammar School
, and Monash University
, where he undertook a Bachelor of Arts and Laws. After completing articles at Melbourne's McCracken and McCracken, Walters practised as a solicitor
with the large country law firm, Warren Graham & Murphy, based in Bairnsdale
. One of his major clients there was the Australian Timber Workers Union (now the Forestry Division of the CFMEU
).
. In 1991, when the first Gulf War erupted, Walters became the convener of "Legal workers Against War" ("LAW"). In 1999 Walters advised journalist Alan Gray in relation to his book "Forest Friendly Building Timbers" after the National Association of Forest Industries threatened to sue because it criticised logging practices. Subsequently he joined the committee of Free Speech Victoria and became its Vice President and Spokesperson. Walters joined the committee of Liberty Victoria in 2001, the same year he took silk, and served as Vice President from 2002 to 2004 and president from 2004 to 2006, when he was succeeded by Julian Burnside QC. Walters is currently on the executive as immediate past president. During his term as president Walters actively campaigned on issues such as the terror laws, the treatment of Jack Thomas and David Hicks
, the proposal to introduce an identity card in Australia, the mandatory detention of asylum seekers, as well as police shootings and corruption. Walters has advised and appeared in numerous human rights and environmental cases, including acting for Senator Bob Brown in 1988 when he was prosecuted for obstructing lawful forest operations in Goolengook, successfully arguing that the forest operations in East Gippsland were unlawful.
At the end of 1982 and into 1983 Walters rafted down the Franklin River
to join the Franklin Blockade
. He had been involved in the campaign to save the Franklin for some years. In 1993 he was a founding member of the Greens in Victoria. In 2007 Walters was appointed president of Protectors of Public Lands Inc – an umbrella group of over 80 environment, heritage and community groups dedicated to protecting and conserving lands and historic sites in the public domain.
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
and human rights advocate. Brian was the Australian Greens
Australian Greens
The Australian Greens, commonly known as The Greens, is an Australian green political party.The party was formed in 1992; however, its origins can be traced to the early environmental movement in Australia and the formation of the United Tasmania Group , the first Green party in the world, which...
candidate for the state seat of Melbourne
Electoral district of Melbourne
The Electoral district of Melbourne is an electorate of the Victorian Legislative Assembly. It is currently based around the localities of Carlton, North Carlton, Melbourne, East Melbourne, West Melbourne, North Melbourne, Parkville, Newmarket, Kensington and Flemington, and includes Melbourne...
in the 2010 Victorian state election
Victorian state election, 2010
The 2010 Victorian state election was held on 27 November. The incumbent centre-left Australian Labor Party government, led by John Brumby, was defeated by the centre-right Liberal/National Coalition opposition, led by Ted Baillieu....
.
Early career
Walters was born on 17 June 1954, the third of four sons born to Neville and Jean Walters. He was educated at Blackburn State SchoolBlackburn High School
Blackburn High School is a public secondary school for girls and boys in years 7 to 12 in Blackburn, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The school has traditionally had a strong music curriculum, with its varied bands and orchestras consistently winning state and national awards...
, Carey Baptist Grammar School
Carey Baptist Grammar School
Carey Baptist Grammar School is an independent, co-educational, Christian, international, day school consisting of four campuses in Victoria, Australia - Kew , Donvale , the Carey Sports Complex in Bulleen and an outdoor education camp near Paynesville in eastern Gippsland called Carey...
, and Monash University
Monash University
Monash University is a public university based in Melbourne, Victoria. It was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the state. Monash is a member of Australia's Group of Eight and the ASAIHL....
, where he undertook a Bachelor of Arts and Laws. After completing articles at Melbourne's McCracken and McCracken, Walters practised as a solicitor
Solicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
with the large country law firm, Warren Graham & Murphy, based in Bairnsdale
Bairnsdale, Victoria
Bairnsdale is a small city in Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. With a population at the 2006 census of 11,282, it is a major regional centre of eastern Victoria along with Traralgon and Sale....
. One of his major clients there was the Australian Timber Workers Union (now the Forestry Division of the CFMEU
Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union
The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union is Australia's main trade union in construction, forestry and furnishing products, mining and energy production....
).
Professional career
In 1982 Brian Walters returned to Melbourne and signed the roll of counsel at the Victorian BarVictorian Bar
The Victorian Bar is the bar association for the Australian State of Victoria. Its members are barristers registered to practice in Victoria. On 19 January 2006, there were 1627 counsel practising as members of the Victorian Bar. Once a barrister has been admitted to practice by the Supreme Court...
. In 1991, when the first Gulf War erupted, Walters became the convener of "Legal workers Against War" ("LAW"). In 1999 Walters advised journalist Alan Gray in relation to his book "Forest Friendly Building Timbers" after the National Association of Forest Industries threatened to sue because it criticised logging practices. Subsequently he joined the committee of Free Speech Victoria and became its Vice President and Spokesperson. Walters joined the committee of Liberty Victoria in 2001, the same year he took silk, and served as Vice President from 2002 to 2004 and president from 2004 to 2006, when he was succeeded by Julian Burnside QC. Walters is currently on the executive as immediate past president. During his term as president Walters actively campaigned on issues such as the terror laws, the treatment of Jack Thomas and David Hicks
David Hicks
David Matthew Hicks is an Australian who was convicted by the United States of America Guantanamo Military Commission under the Military Commissions Act of 2006, on charges of providing material support for terrorism...
, the proposal to introduce an identity card in Australia, the mandatory detention of asylum seekers, as well as police shootings and corruption. Walters has advised and appeared in numerous human rights and environmental cases, including acting for Senator Bob Brown in 1988 when he was prosecuted for obstructing lawful forest operations in Goolengook, successfully arguing that the forest operations in East Gippsland were unlawful.
At the end of 1982 and into 1983 Walters rafted down the Franklin River
Franklin River
The Franklin River lies in the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park at the mid northern area of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. Its source is situated at the western edge of the Central Highlands and it continues west towards the West Coast of Tasmania...
to join the Franklin Blockade
Franklin Dam
The Franklin Dam or Gordon-below-Franklin Dam project was a proposed dam on the Gordon River in Tasmania, Australia, that was never constructed. The movement that eventually led to the project's cancellation became one of most significant environmental campaigns in Australian history.The dam was...
. He had been involved in the campaign to save the Franklin for some years. In 1993 he was a founding member of the Greens in Victoria. In 2007 Walters was appointed president of Protectors of Public Lands Inc – an umbrella group of over 80 environment, heritage and community groups dedicated to protecting and conserving lands and historic sites in the public domain.
Personal life
Walters married Sally Polmear (daughter of Professor Ian Polmear and Valerie Polmear) on 21 December 1985. They have two children, Rachel (born 1990) and Georgia (born 1992).External links
- brianwalters.com.au
- Brian Walters blog
- Liberty Victoria
- Victorian Council for Civil Liberties Incorporated v Minister for Immigration & Multicultural Affairs & Ors V 899 of 2001. Statement of judgement (brief version)
- Perspective Notes about a short radio talk given by Walters on Australian radio on the subject of "Slapping on the Writs".