ALS Media

ALS staffer wins award for ongoing commitment to improving justice

26 Oct 2011

John McKenzie, Chief Legal Officer of Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT) was awarded the Law and Justice Foundation Justice Medal on Monday 24th October 2011 at Parliament House NSW.

John McKenzie began his legal career as a junior lawyer in Moree NSW with the Aboriginal Legal Service, some 30 years ago.

Former High Court Chief Justice Sir Anthony Mason presented Mr McKenzie with the Justice Medal for his outstanding achievements over the past 30 years.

"Where many others have fought and then moved on, John remains dedicated and passionate to law reform, and he retains a fresh, innovative approach to legal service delivery,'' Sir Anthony Mason told the large audience at Parliament House.

"John is known for his unwavering commitment to ensuring that Aboriginal people receive proper legal representation and that the underlying issues causing the over-representation of Aboriginal people in the criminal justice system in NSW are strategically pursued," he said.

Sir Anthony specifically cited John's significant contribution to the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. “John continues to be committed to ensuring the recommendations of the Commission remain at the forefront of law reform."

Gerry Moore, Chief Executive Officer of the Aboriginal Legal Service has warmly congratulated Mr McKenzie.

“This is an outstanding honour and even more impressive considering that John was one of ten distinguished nominees,” Mr Moore said.

“It is a wonderful and well-deserved accolade,” he said.

The NSW Attorney General, the Hon. Greg Smith SC MP, also congratulated John McKenzie for being awarded the 2011 Justice Medal.

Dr Tom Calma delivered the Law and Justice Address this year at the Awards evening.

Media enquiries: Kate Finlayson 0418 254 237 

Quality photographs are available.

Extract from the Justice Medal speech
by Sir Anthony Mason, Patron of the Law and Justice Foundation NSW

John has been nominated for his unwavering commitment to improving access to justice for Aboriginal people over the past 30 years. In 1987 he was appointed as Principal Solicitor (NSW, Tasmania, Victoria) to the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, and he remains committed to ensuring the recommendations of the Commission remain at the forefront of law reform. Through his decades of involvement with the Aboriginal Legal Service, John has worked tirelessly to ensure that Aboriginal people have access to proper legal representation….

And now to announce the 2011 Justice Medalist.

He is known as someone who would consider himself undeserving of this award, and for that very reason others consider him to be absolutely deserving of it.

Where many others have fought and then moved on, he remains dedicated and passionate to law reform, and he retains a fresh, innovative approach to legal service delivery.

Not only is he committed to ensuring the people he serves receive proper legal representation, he also strives to ensure that the underlying causes of Aboriginal over-representation in the criminal justice system are strategically pursued.

Ladies and gentleman, in recognition of his unwavering commitment to improving access to justice for Aboriginal people, I am pleased to announce Mr John McKenzie as the 2011 Justice Medalist.

Short Biography of John McKenzie

John McKenzie started work as an Aboriginal Legal Service (ALS) solicitor in Moree in north-west NSW in 1980. Since then he has worked for the ALS in several remote and regional areas as well as in Redfern, in inner-city Sydney.

Mr McKenzie worked as a Principal Solicitor on the staff of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody from 1987 to 1991.

He has worked for the NSW Aboriginal Land Council as their initial legal officer and been part of a state-wide training program delivered to local Aboriginal community members on the workings of the NSW Aboriginal Land Rights Act.

After a short period in private practice and part-time lecturing he worked as the Solicitor in Charge at a regional office of Legal Aid NSW before returning to the ALS in 2001.

Since 2006 Mr McKenzie has held the position of Chief Legal Officer in the ALS (NSW/ACT) Limited. He acknowledges the considerable benefit he has received over the course of 30 years from many Aboriginal people who have taught him much about the world and himself.