Beach Safety and the Law National Summit 2007

 Australians love the beach and with more than 80% of our population living along the coastline and approximately 55 million visits per year, beaches are a central part of the Australian lifestyle. 

Keeping beaches safe and providing for sustainable future use is a critical challenge for all of us. 

For the past 100 years volunteer surf lifesavers have guarded the beaches – providing education, prevention and rescue services for the public. Recognising this century of commitment, 2007 has been designated the national Year of the Surf Lifesaver by the Commonwealth Government. 

While Australian surf lifesavers are an international icon associated with the beach, there are many other stakeholders from all levels of government, the legal industry and the business sector that share critical legal roles and responsibilities for safety on our beaches.

The Queensland Law Society is proud to join Surf Life Saving Australia and the QUT Faculty of Law to convene the inaugural National Summit on Beach Safety and the Law.

The Summit will examine existing law as it applies to topics of public liability, tourism, the roles and responsibilities of local government councils and other statutory authorities, developers and those charged with protecting beach users – our volunteer lifesavers and salaried lifeguards. Expert legal speakers and panelists will summarise the law as it stands and challenge us with future initiatives to safeguard our beaches and beach users. 

Keynote speakers include:

** The Hon Premier Beattie (invited)

** The Hon Justice M A McMurdo, President, Queensland Court of Appeal

** The Hon Justice John Jerrard, Supreme Court, Queensland

** The Hon Justice Whealy, Supreme Court, New South Wales

** Michael Barnes, Queensland State Coroner

** John Witheriff, Partner, Minter Ellison Lawyers

** Rob Davis, Barrister-at-Law

** Brett Williamson, OAM, Chief Executive Officer, Surf Life Saving Australia

** Trevor Atherton, Solicitor and author of Tourism, Travel and Hospitality Law (Law Book Company)

** Professor Brian Fitzgerald, Law Faculty, Queensland University of Technology

** Dr Jeff Wilks, Strategic Director, Surf Life Saving Australia

** Susan Rankin, Chief Executive Officer, Redland Shire Council

** Bruce Cantrill, Special Counsel, Torts (Service/Regulatory Agencies) Team, NSW Crown Solicitor’s Office

** Ron Barnes, Divisional Manager – Risk Management, Echelon Australia (subsidiary of Jardine Lloyd Thompson insurers)

** Superintendent Jim Keogh, District Officer, Gold Coast Police District

** Greg Hallam, Executive Director, Local Government Association of Queensland

** Mark Williams, Partner, King and Company, Solicitors

Who should attend?

** legal practitioners working in local government

** local government officials

** insurance law practitioners

** personal injuries (plaintiff) practitioners

** parks and recreation authorities

** maritime safety officials

** police and emergency services officials

** tourism operators and destination managers

All profits from registration fees will go to Surf Life Saving Australia

Details of the Summit can be found at: www.beachsafety.qut.edu.au

We hope you are able to join us for the inaugural National Summit on Beach Safety and the Law – to be held at one of the world’s most famous beach destinations – Queensland’s beautiful Gold Coast.

Dr Jeff Wilks, Surf Life Saving Australia
Peter Carne, Queensland Law Society
Prof Brian Fitzgerald, Queensland University of Technology

Report by The Mole