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Recent Opinion Posts

Waller v Barrett – at last! The internationally recognised tort of invasion of privacy finally becomes proper Australian law
12th Dec 2024
Invasion of privacy recognised as an actionable right under Australian common law.
Navigating liability: How could autonomous vehicles impact insurance?
5th Dec 2024
Greg Spinda explains why policymakers need to prepare for fully automated vehicle system failures.

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31st Jan 2025
Gold Coast Annual Case Review 2024
Friday 31 January 2025
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Gold Coast
13th Feb 2025
Queensland Conference 2025
13-15 February 2025
Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, Gold Coast

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Victorian Civil Justice Award

The Victorian Civil Justice Award is presented to an individual or organisation who has made a significant contribution or personal sacrifice towards the pursuit of justice in Victoria. The Award is presented at the ALA's annual Victoria Conference in April/May.

See below for a gallery of all Victorian Civil Justice Award recipients.

NB: The Award hasn't been presented every year.


2024: Flat Out Inc for supporting women, trans and gender diverse people to get out and stay out of prison. Read more.	2023: Aunty Donna Nelson for her determination to hold organisations to account for her daughter’s death in custody. Read more.	2022: Sister Brigid Arthur at Brigidine Asylum Seekers Project for her long term commitment to social justice and advocating rights for some of the most vulnerable members of our community for decades. Read more.

2021: Apryl Day and Day family for their work to successfully decriminalise public drunkenness in Victoria and the establishment of the Dhadjowa Foundation, which brings together Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families who have experienced the loss of a family member in custody. Read more.	2020: The Victoria Legal Aid Civil Justice Program for successfully challenging the lawfulness of the Federal Government’s robo-debt scheme.	2019: The Human Rights Law Centre (left and second from left) and Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (second from right) for co-ordinating the legal response and public campaign that ultimately resulted in the introduction of medevac legislation. Read more.


2018: The Law and Advocacy Centre for Women which provides free, specialised representation for women in Victoria dealing with criminal matters. Read more.	2017: The Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service for securing the transfer of Aboriginal children from the adult Barwon Prison back to youth justice facilities in Victoria. Pictured with Geraldine Collins, ALA Victorian President (second from left). Read more.	2016: No Business in Abuse (left) for creating and implementing a strategy to put commercial pressure on public company Transfield Services to take its share of responsibility for the human rights abuses occurring in the Nauru detention centre that it managed. Read more.


2014: Flemington and Kensington Community Legal Centre (centre) for representing Corinna Horvath, a young Victorian woman who was subjected to police brutality. Read more.	2013: Lynette Rowe who was the lead plaintiff in the class action against German drug company Grunenthal, responsible for distributing the Thalidomide drug in Australia. Read more.	2012: David Manne for his outstanding advocacy for refugee rights.


2006: Lex Lasry QC and Julian McMahon (pictured) for their work on the trial of Melbourne man Van Nguyen, who was hanged in Singapore on 2 December 2005 on drugs charges.	2004: Paul Mulvaney and John Price.	2002: Eric Vadarlis who challenged the Federal Government’s attempts to imprison and forcefully remove asylum seekers on board MV Tampa by seeking Orders that he be granted access to asylum seekers for the purpose of giving legal advice.