The Callover

One of the most high-profile unlawful termination cases in recent years, Lattouf v Australian Broadcasting Corporation (No 2), thrust employment law into the national spotlight. In this episode of The Callover, host Georgia Athanasellis is joined by Shannon Chapman, a Partner practising in employment, industrial relations and safety at Lander & Rogers, to unpack the decision and its wider implications. With nearly two decades of experience, Shannon explains the background to the case, the Court’s reasoning, and what the decision means for both employees and employers, when it comes to political opinion, social media use, and conduct inside and outside of the workplace. To find Georgia: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgia-athanasellis-21713715a/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Callover returns in 2026 with Terry O’Gorman, one of Queensland’s most persistent defenders of civil liberties. As a young law student, Terry witnessed a confronting police crackdown during a protest in the Bjelke Petersen years. It set him on a path that would span five decades in criminal law and public advocacy. In this episode, he talks through some of the moments that shaped his career, the lessons learned from fighting for his clients’ rights, and why he’s still speaking out. Although retired from private practice, Terry remains deeply engaged in advocating for aspects of the law and its application that require improvement, like disclosure obligations in criminal proceedings. To find Georgia: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgia-athanasellis-21713715a/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of The Callover, we speak with Judge Dženita Balić of the Queensland District Court about her extraordinary journey from refugee to the bench. After fleeing the Bosnian War and arriving in Australia as a teenager, Judge Balić learned English as her third language, graduated with a Bachelor of Laws in 2005, and the next 17 years at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, where she rose to the position of Principal Crown Prosecutor before being appointed as a Magistrate in 2022. In 2024, her Honour was appointed to the District Court of Queensland. We discuss her career in criminal law, the qualities that make a great advocate, and why diversity and inclusion are vital for access to justice. To find Georgia: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgia-athanasellis-21713715a/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of The Callover, we speak with outgoing Queensland Human Rights Commissioner Scott McDougall. With a career spanning more than 30 years in community legal advocacy, public policy and social justice, Scott has been a strong and consistent voice for human rights in Queensland. As his term as Commissioner comes to an end this month, we reflect on his journey through the law, his time at the Commission, and what lies ahead for human rights in the state. Transcript to come.  To find Georgia: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgia-athanasellis-21713715a/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of The Callover, we are once again joined by Stafford Shepherd, the Principal Ethics and Practice Counsel of the Queensland Law Society Ethics and Practice Centre and the Legal Practitioner Director of QLS Solicitor Support Pty Ltd, a wholly owned incorporated legal practice of QLS.  Stafford talks about conflicts of interest – including how to identify them, the different kinds of conflicts that might arise, and what our professional obligations are. To find Georgia: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgia-athanasellis-21713715a/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of The Callover we have the immense privilege of speaking with Judge Nathan Jarro. Prior to his appointment to the bench, Judge Jarro practiced as a solicitor, a barrister and a deputy public interest monitor. He has also served as a member of various tribunals, including the Children Services Tribunal, the Mental Health Review Tribunal, and the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal. When, on 26 March 2018, he was appointed as a judge of the Queensland District Court, he became the first person of Aboriginal heritage to be appointed as a judge of this State. We are honoured that he has agreed to join us to discuss his remarkable career and to celebrate NAIDOC Week for 2025. To read a transcript of this episode:  https://www.qls.com.au/Membership/The-Hub/The-Callover To find Georgia: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgia-athanasellis-21713715a/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of The Callover, we speak with Stafford Shepherd, the Principal Ethics Solicitor of the Queensland Law Society Ethics and Practice Centre and the foundation Legal Practitioner Director of QLS Solicitor Support Pty Ltd, a wholly owned incorporated legal practice of QLS, about what Legal Professional Privilege is, why it is such a fundamental part of the legal profession, how we can protect it and when - and by whom - it can be waived. To read a transcript of this episode:  https://www.qls.com.au/Membership/The-Hub/The-Callover To find Stafford: linkedin.com/in/stafford-shepherd-06286a8b To find Georgia: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgia-athanasellis-21713715a/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of The Callover, we speak with Stafford Shepherd, the Principal Ethics and Practice Counsel of the Queensland Law Society Ethics and Practice Centre and the Legal Practitioner Director of QLS Solicitor Support Pty Ltd, a wholly owned incorporated legal practice of QLS, about the fundamentals of billing as a legal practitioner. Billing is not just a financial practice but a critical component of maintaining clients’ trust and upholding ethical standards in the legal profession. In this conversation, we explore the ethical obligations and professional standards that govern what types of work can and can’t be billed, how to draft clear and accurate invoices and the importance of compliance with the Legal Profession Act 2007 (Qld).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of The Callover, we are joined the Honourable Justice Elizabeth Wilson and Dr Jane Phillips to discuss the value of expert psychiatric evidence in legal proceedings. Justice Wilson graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (with Honours) at the Queensland University of Technology in 1995, was admitted to the Bar the following year and, in 2011, was appointed as senior counsel. While at the bar, her Honour practiced in criminal, administrative and constitutional matters. Before being appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court in 2018 and the President of the Mental Health Court in 2022, Justice Wilson had served as a sessional member of the Anti-Discrimination Tribunal and the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal and acted as counsel in a number of Commission of Inquiries including the Youth Detention Review in 2016. Dr Jane Phillips is a consultant forensic psychiatrist who specialises in medico-legal psychiatric assessments and reports. Dr Phillips completed her internship and basic psychiatry training at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne before completing advanced training in forensic psychiatry at the Victorian Institute of Forensic Mental Health. In additional to her work as a forensic psychiatrist, she has worked as a consultant psychiatrist in prisons and Victoria's High Security Forensic Hospital. Dr Phillips has been providing expert evidence to the Mental Health Court since 2011, and has otherwise prepared reports for Legal Aid Queensland, the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Parole Board and the Mental Health Review Tribunal.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In our season finale for 2024, we have the immense honour of speaking with the Honourable Justice Michael Kirby AC CGM. Michael Kirby is a man who needs no introduction. He was called to the Bar in 1967, and in 1975, became the youngest man to hold a federal judicial office when he was appointed as the Deputy President of the Australian Conciliation and Arbitration Commission. Later that year he was also appointed as the inaugural Chair of the Australian Law Reform Commission. In 1983, he was appointed as a judge of the Federal Court of Australia and in 1984, became the President of the New South Wales Court of Appeal. There he served until 1996, when he was appointed as a Justice of the High Court of Australia, a position he held until his retirement from the bench in 2009. In addition to his immense impact on Australia’s jurisprudence, Michael Kirby's career has been marked by a commitment to human rights law reform and social justice. On this episode of The Callover, we discussed his reflections on what has been truly remarkable career and hope for the future of the legal profession.Read more about Justice Kirby here: https://www.michaelkirby.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of The Callover, we speak with Gavin Rebetzke about the key principles of defamation law, along with some of the recent cases in this space. Gavin grew up in Townsville, studied at James Cook University and the University of Queensland before undertaking his articles at Roberts & Kane Solicitors in 1993. He was admitted in 1995 and continued to work in that general practice in Brisbane, where he later became partner in 2000. In 2007, Gavin was called to the Bar and has been practicing in a variety of matters since, with a special interest in defamation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Palwasha Nawabi is part of a generation of young lawyers seeking to make a positive impact on society. In 2023, Palwasha was awarded the Law Council of Australia – Australian Young Lawyers Award in recognition of her significant achievement in leading the operational and administrative aspect of a pro bono initiative which resulted in the successful procurement of 90 subclass 449 visas for many Afghan women and their families and permanent residence visas for those who chose to settle in Australia.Listen more episodes here:https://www.qls.com.au/Membership/The-Hub/The-CalloverSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In celebration of NAIDOC Week, we have the pleasure of speaking with the Honourable Justice Lincoln Crowley. His Honour grew up in Charters Towers and is a proud descendant of the Warramunga peoples. Since joining the legal profession in 1996, Justice Crowley has had a varied and impressive career. He has worked at the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service in Townsville, for the Queensland and Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions, within the New South Wales’ Crown Solicitors’ Office, at the private bar and as the senior counsel assisting the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability. In 2018, Justice Crowley became the first Indigenous person to be appointed as Queen's Counsel in Queensland, and on 13 June 2022, became Australia’s first Indigenous judge of a superior court when he was appointed to the Supreme Court of Queensland. On this episode of The Callover, we discuss his life in the law and why representation and diversity are important within the legal profession.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.