I move that the Senate

1.       notes it is Law Week, which runs from 12 to 18 May 2014 to promote community awareness about the legal system and access to justice;

2.       notes that the Productivity Commission's draft report into Access to Justice states advocacy should be a core activity of the legal assistance sector;

3.       recognises that legal aid commissions and community legal centres are uniquely placed to advocate for law reform, and that to do so is an efficient use of their resources; and

The Australian Greens will today vote against federal legislation backing up Campbell Newman's draconian G20 laws, Senator Penny Wright and Greens Deputy Leader Adam Bandt MP have announced.

Senator Wright, Australian Greens spokesperson for Legal Affairs, said the Queensland laws were a gross breach of human rights.

"Campbell Newman's G20 laws take away basic freedoms for thousands of Brisbane residents - even allowing people to be excluded from their own homes or businesses," Senator Wright said.

The Australian Greens have called on the Abbott Government to heed a Productivity Commission report, emphasising the important role of legal assistance services in law reform.

“The Abbott Government was extremely short-sighted in ripping $43 million out of the legal sector, starving community services of the ability to conduct law reform,” said the Australian Greens’ spokesperson for Legal Affairs, Senator Penny Wright.

Expert oversight of Australia's counter-terrorism laws cannot be called "red tape", Australian Greens spokesperson for legal affairs Senator Penny Wright has said.

Senator Wright said the Abbott Government should be red-faced about using red tape repeal day to take away human rights oversight by seeking to dismantle the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor.

"Successive governments have ignored the recommendations of Bret Walker to fix the over-zealous Howard counter-terrorism laws," Senator Wright said.

The Australian Senate has formally chastised Queensland Premier Campbell Newman for his disparaging comments on the legal profession, Australian Greens spokesperson for legal affairs Senator Penny Wright said today.

"Mr Newman's recent comments on lawyers and judges have been ignorant and irresponsible," Senator Wright said.

"He clearly has a very limited understanding about the fundamentals of the law that keep our democracy strong.

"His disdain for the legal profession is alarming and he's backing it up with extreme legislation.

That the Senate:

1.      notes the Queensland Premier has made recent public statements that:

a.       any lawyer acting for a member of a motorcycling gang is part of what he described as a criminal gang machine, and will say and do anything to defend their clients;

b.      members of the legal community, including the judiciary, are living out of touch with society and do not understand what the community wants from the law; and