Regional and Rural Legal Services Panel

Panel firms represent the Secretary of the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) in care proceedings before the Children’s Court of NSW.

Services include:

• all work associated with an initial mention before the Children’s Court, including reviewing documentation and instructions, providing advice, attending court and preparing court outcome reports
• all work associated with subsequent mentions, including reviewing instructions, providing advice, preparing or settling documents (including subpoenas), attending court, and preparing court outcome reports
• acting as the agent of the Secretary on a list day
• preparing for interim hearings
• preparing for establishment or disposition hearings
• advocacy at hearings before the Children’s Court
• preparing for and advocacy at dispute resolution conferences or other dispute resolution processes.

Panel firms audit files and information relating to a child or young person under the parental responsibility of the Minister or a recent care leaver (that is a child or young person who was formerly under the parental responsibility of the Minister) and provide legal advice to the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) in relation to:

• potential legal entitlements in any jurisdiction that the child or young person may have, including but not limited to, victims support, personal injury, inheritances and claims against the state relating to child abuse
• preparing claims on receipt of instructions, particularly in respect of victims support recognition payments.

Panel firms help Transport for NSW (TfNSW) with prosecutions and appeals. These usually relate to:

• driving licence suspension or cancellation
• examiner’s Authorised Inspection Scheme (AIS) authority suspension or cancellation
• offences detected under the Heavy Vehicle National Law
• defended camera-detected hearings, speed, red light, bus lane offences
• criminal prosecutions
• and others.

Services include:

• all work associated with an initial mention before the court, including reviewing documentation and instructions, providing advice, attending court and preparing court outcome reports
• all work associated with any subsequent mentions where instructed, including reviewing instructions, providing advice, preparing or settling documents (including subpoenas), attending court and preparing court outcome reports
• acting as the agent of Transport for NSW on a list day
• preparing for mentions or defended hearings
• advice on reasonable prospects on conviction or in response to legal representations
• advocacy at hearings before the Local and District Court.

Panel firms help Transport for NSW (TfNSW) acquire property in regional and rural areas under the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991. This includes tasks related to the conveyance of real property, from preparation of contract documents to registration of transfer and handover of title documents.

Firms prepare, negotiate terms and advise on:

• contracts for the whole or part purchase or sale of land
• documents creating and releasing easements and covenants
• leasing and licensing agreements for all property types
• deeds for the creation, purchase and retirement of biodiversity offset credits
• deeds to release occupants, lessee’s and other interest in land
• instruments and dealings in accordance with the Conveyancing Act 1919, Real Property Act 1900, Retail Leases Act 1994, Community Land Development Act 1989, Strata Schemes (Freehold Development) Act 1973, Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 and Biodiversity Conservation Regulation 2017, and other relevant legislation
• drafting and amending contract special conditions.

Panel firms also provide general property advice. General property advice excludes the following areas of law:

• heritage planning and protection
• contaminated land
• pollution control
• environmental and planning.

Panel firms help with commercial and contractual matters including:

• professional services and consultancy agreements
• sponsorship agreements
• tendering and procurement
• construction contracts
• other general commercial advice.

Firms also provide services related to property, and planning matters:

• general property law advice, dealings and transactional work
• complex property law advice, dealings and transactional work
• environmental and planning
• heritage conservation
• property development advice and agreements.

Rachael Ward
Director, Child Protection
Department of Communities and Justice
Rachael.ward@dcj.nsw.gov.au
0438 484 125

Andrew Whitton
Senior Manager Prosecutions
Transport for NSW
andrew.whitton2@transport.nsw.gov.au
02 6058 4957

Kat Dunkley
Director, Property Land Access
Transport for NSW
kat.dunkley@transport.nsw.gov.au (please copy ruth.donoghue@transport.nsw.gov.au)
0477 501 462

Zakhia Aoun
Director Operations
Department of Planning and Environment
zakhia.aoun@dpie.nsw.gov.au
0459 890 893