Victorian Bar accused of ‘unacceptable interference’ in favour of Yes campaign ahead of Indigenous voice to parliament referendum

Enraged barristers have accused the Victorian Bar of ‘unacceptable interference’ in a poll to decide whether the association backs an Indigenous voice parliament or not.

Announcement of the professional development event comes as all 2200 members gear up to vote on whether the Bar should give support to the Indigenous voice to parliament.

Some barristers have accused the Victorian Bar of “unacceptable interference” in a poll to decide whether the institution backs the Indigenous voice, after it dedicated resources to a professional ­development course for all members, run by two pro-voice barristers, on what the voice is.

The course is to be moderated by Timothy Goodwin, co-chair of the Indigenous justice committee, and Dan Star KC, who was one of 300 signatories to a petition that circulated among members in March, urging the Bar to back the voice.

Speakers at the event include constitutional lawyer Cheryl Saunders, a member of Anthony Albanese’s referendum working group, and University of Melbourne Associate Dean of Indigenous Programs, Eddie Cubillo.

Announcement of the professional development event comes as all 2200 members gear up to vote on whether the Bar should give public support to the voice. The seminar is scheduled to be held two days before voting opens, and will be available online for all members to access during the voting period.

Lana Collaris, the proposer of a motion for the Bar to remain silent on the topic of the voice or risk its independence, told The Australian the seminar was “an unacceptable interference with the democratic process”.

“The Bar is giving the Yes campaigners an unfair advantage by providing them with Bar resources to hold a seminar that is nothing more than an advertising campaign for the Yes motion,” she said.

“As proposer of the motion that the Bar say nothing on the voice and remain independent, I have not been extended any invitation to use the Bar’s resources in this way. I will be lodging a formal complaint with the president.”

Lana Collaris says the Victorian Bar would be abusing its powers if it publicly stated a position on the Indigenous voice.

Another senior barrister, who did not wish to be named, said hosting the seminar just prior to the vote was “outrageous … There has been no such invitation extended to those from the ‘staying neutral’ camp, and they shouldn’t be using Bar resources in this way. It’s hubris and arrogance.”

Mr Goodwin said the seminar had been scheduled “well before” the poll had been announced, and speakers were selected based on their “academic backgrounds”, not their political views.

“Speaking invitations were sent to senior legal academics, both First Nations and non-First Nations, prior to the bill to alter the Constitution being introduced into parliament,” he said.

The invitation for the seminar, sent to all Bar members, encouraged attendees to a watch a discussion “on the proposed amendments to the Australian Constitution”.

“This seminar will cover matters of constitutional law and access to justice arising from the Australian government proposal to enshrine in the Constitution an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voice to parliament and the executive, which will be voted on in a referendum,” it read.

“Issues to be addressed include how the proposed constitutional amendment is connected to the principles of representative government, responsible government, and equality; and how the proposed amendment relates to First Peoples’ access to justice.”

The invitation was released in a bulk email that also invited members to a seminar on LGBTIQ Awareness of Barristers, one on “practice building” through promotion and “blogging”, and another entitled “Where child protection meets family law”.