In this Government Law series, you will cover three critical and timely topics for public sector practitioners, providing valuable insights to help public sector lawyers and decision-makers navigate complex obligations while promoting transparency, accountability, and effective governance. Don’t take a whole day out of the office, instead join us for an hour each over 3 weeks.
Description
Attend the full series and earn 3 CPD units including:
1 unit in Substantive Law
1 unit in Ethics and Professional Responsibility
1 unit in Practice Management
If you register for the full series as a live online product after the date of an individual session, you will be sent the recording for the sessions that have passed. Alternatively, you can register for individual sessions by following the links below.
Sustainable Procurement for NSW Government
Tuesday, 14 October 2025
Explore sustainable procurement, what it means in practice, how to apply life cycle costing and total cost of ownership principles. Understand how to address externalities as well as recent and upcoming changes, including Buy Local initiatives, the Contractor Review List and Modern Slavery compliance requirements for NSW Government and Local Councils.
2.30pm to 3.30pm Sustainable Procurement for NSW Government
- Sustainable procurement: What it means?
- Life cycle costing and total cost of ownership
- Externalities
- Recent and upcoming changes:
- Buy Local
- Modern Slavery for NSW Government
- Contractor Review List
Presented by Scott Alden, Partner, Mills Oakley; Accredited Specialist in Government & Administrative Law
Description
Attend and earn 1 CPD unit in Substantive Law
This program is based on NSW legislation
Presenters
Scott Alden, Partner, Mills OakleyWith over 25 years of experience, Scott specialises as a legal advisor on significant projects and procurements for government clients. Scott’s role of lead advisor to significant projects often incorporates legal and procurement expertise on the same transaction, as well as strategic probity advice. In recognition of his position as a leading government lawyer, Scott was one of the first Law Society Accredited Specialists in Government and Administrative Law, both Commonwealth and State (with a focus on government commercial and procurement transactions), and has been appointed by the Law Society of NSW as the Head Assessor for that Specialist Accreditation in 2024. Scott also writes and lectures two procurement courses for the Masters Programs at both College of Law and the University of Melbourne. Scott is currently on an international committee that is in the process of drafting international Modern Slavery guidelines. He is experienced in drafting and implementing key project documents including market sounding/engagement documents, industry briefings, RFTs, tender evaluation plans, tender evaluation reports, commercial contracts and agreements and legal advices and resolutions to support decisions.
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Government Agencies’ Duty to Assist and Cooperate in Inquiries
Tuesday, 21 October 2025
Examine the duty of government agencies and their employees to assist and cooperate in inquiries and investigations such as Royal Commissions, Special Commissions of Inquiry, and ICAC, outlining the scope and limitations of this duty, model litigant obligations, strategic considerations, and the consequences of non-compliance.
Descripton
Attend and earn 1 CPD unit in Ethics and Professional Responsibility
This program is applicable to practitioners from all States & Territories
Ethics and Professional Responsibility
2.30pm to 3.30pm Government Agencies’ Duty to Assist and Cooperate in Inquiries
Government agencies and their employees have a duty to assist and cooperate in inquiries and other investigations, such as those conducted by Royal Commissions, Special Commissions of Inquiry and the Independent Commission Against Corruption. Such a duty is viewed as promoting accountability and transparency. Explore the scope and limitations on the duty of agencies and their employees to assist and cooperate with inquiries and investigations, including:
- Agencies’ roles in inquiries: model litigant and strategic considerations
- Means of assistance: document production, access to employees and lines of enquiry
- Individual employees’ duties
- Limitations on assistance and cooperation: immunities and privileges
- Consequences of non-compliance
Presented by Trent Glover SC, 11 St James Hall; Adjunct Professor, James Cook University
Presenters
Trent Glover SC, 11 St James Hall; Adjunct Professor, James Cook University
Trent is one of Australia’s leading public law barristers. He is also an Adjunct Professor of Law in the College of Business, Law and Governance at James Cook University. Trent has a diverse practice, concentrating primarily on public law litigation, regulatory litigation and advising. He appears regularly in the Federal Court, and State and Territory Supreme Courts at appellate level and first instance around Australia. Much of his practice comprises complex and sensitive litigation that is the focus of media attention and parliamentary scrutiny. Trent has extensive experience in Royal Commissions and commissions of inquiry including as Counsel Assisting the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements (also known as the Bushfires Royal Commission), and appearing recently for the State of New South Wales in the Disability Royal Commission and the Commonwealth of Australia in the Robodebt Royal Commission. He was recently appointed the first Counsel Assisting the Inspector of the National Anti-Corruption Commission. Trent is currently the Chair of the NSW Bar Association’s Human Rights Committee. He formerly served as a member of the Inquests and Inquiries Committee and on a professional conduct committee.
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Navigating Administrative Decision Making and Commercial Imperatives in Government
Tuesday, 28 October 2025
Focus on the intersection between administrative decision-making and commercial imperatives within statutory authorities, how statutory powers and commercial objectives interact, the tensions that can arise when government operates in a commercial context, and provides practical strategies to identify and mitigate associated risks.
Practice Management & Business Skills
2.30pm to 3.30pm Navigating Administrative Decision Making and Commercial Imperatives in Government
Statutory authorities will typically have powers and functions that they exercise. Many will also have, as part of their charters, an objective to operate as a business or at least in a commercial context. This gives rise to a number of issues:
- Government's role as a decision-maker and exercise statutory powers
- Navigating Statutory authorities within a commercial context
- How and where do the roles intersect?
- What tensions arise?
- What are the key risks and what can be done to mitigate the risks?
Presented by John Clayton, Special Counsel, Clayton Utz
Description
Attend and earn 1 CPD unit in Practice Management
This program is applicable to practitioners from all States & Territories
Presenters
John Clayton, Special Counsel, Clayton UtzJohn Clayton specialises in environment, planning and government law. He has worked extensively both with government authorities and private developers. John's practice covers a wide range of issues, including Federal and State planning and environmental impact assessment, compulsory acquisition and land valuation, and the relationship between administrative law and government decision-making and policy. He has a keen interest in the interaction between administrative law requirements and the commercial imperatives of statutory authorities. John also provides specialist environmental and planning advice in relation to corporate and property transactions.
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