Aboriginal Law Bulletin --- "New Direction for Aboriginal Law Research Unit (ALRU)" [1985] AboriginalLawB 74; (1985) 1(16) Aboriginal Law Bulletin 15

• New Direction For Alru

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New Direction for ALRU

‘We don't see ourselves as occupying a parficular point of view so we are ideally suited to analysing the effectiveness of the law as it relates to Aborigines,’ explains Mr Tony Simpson on his appointment as the Aboriginal Law Research Unit's first Director.

Established in 1981, the Aboriginal Research Unit in UNSW's School of Law publishes the quarterly Aboriginal Law Bulletin and initiates studies and research into current legal developments affecting Aborigines.

Previously a lawyer for the Aboriginal Legal Service Ltd, Mr Simpson has become short-term Director at a time when there has been a rapid increase in demand for the Aboriginal Law Research Unit's services.

'My prime role will be to secure more basic funding to support the Unit's operations, resource base, publication and other activities as well as manage the research projects, says Mr Simpson.

One of the Unit's major short-term projects which will come under Mr Simpson's management is a study of the effect New South Wales land rights legislation is having on Aborigines living in the State.

Another project will look at the operation of Federal legislation under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Heritage (Interim Protection) Act 1984 and ascertain its operational effectiveness. The third project being undertaken this yeorwill analyse the application of three of the international treaties on human rights (the International Covenants on Civil and Political Rights; Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; and The Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination), to Aborigines in Australia.

Mr Simpson, who has worked as a lawyer with the National Aboriginal and Islander Legal Service (NAILSS), brings to UNSW his experience gained while attending many human rights forum meetings in Geneva. He will pass on this experience by acting as an adviser to national Aboriginal bodies making future UN submissions.

Apart from managing the Unit's current research projects, Mr Simpson will also take the responsibility for the initiation of future projects, organising their implementation and the appointment of experienced research staff.

In addition, Mr Simpson is also working with the NSW Land Council in a part-time manner. He was recently involved in the Land Council's negotiations with the NSW Government's Cabinet. This concerned planned amendments to the NSW Aboriginal Land Rights Act.

(UNIKEN-UNSW publication-13 September 1985, p.3)