“For the incredible scope and impact of his contribution to social justice and rights of the disadvantaged in the community.”

Awarded December 2007

“I’m honoured and encouraged by this award, and conscious that I am only one of many people who work for human rights and social justice.”

Ben’s time at University broadened his existing concern for the environment into his present range and depth of commitment to social justice and the rights of the disadvantaged.

“I’ve always had strong views about the environment” he says. That’s why, when he left Melbourne ten years ago to study Arts, then Law at the University of Tasmania, he became Environmental Officer for the Student Representative Council (SRC).

His involvement with the SRC, and the Tasmanian University Union, opened a new world of issues and concerns. He says he loved student politics, and later became Media Officer for the SRC. Here he learned effective ways to achieve reform or draw attention to community concerns, and was involved in many successful campaigns. He’s particularly proud of the push to serve Fair Trade coffee at Lazenby’s (an on-campus bistro popular with both students and locals). They continue to serve it there now.

As a student he also volunteered at the Hobart Community Legal Service. He has written or co-authored many submissions to different organisations, always in support of law reform, social justice, and human or animal rights.

Ben now works with the Hobart Community Legal Service, assisting socially disadvantaged clients, mainly in social security and discrimination law. In his own time he also puts his legal and campaigning talents at the service of many other groups, and has been an active and successful campaigner on a wide range of issues.

In 2007 he was named Australian Young Lawyer of the Year for his outstanding contribution to the legal profession and wider community.

What drives him?

“The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.” (Alice Walker)

He’s passionate about helping others and about the law, which he believes should protect the rights of everyone in the community, whatever their race, religion, sexual orientation or background. He does not believe that justice should be a question of affordability, or luck. He cares deeply about law reform, social justice, and the importance of the latent power that resides within the community, should they choose to exercise it. He is also strongly committed to defending those who are less able to defend themselves.

His advice

• Always strive to do your best, whether it’s a small action or a large one
• Think global, act local – supporting Fair Trade products is a small local action that assists others through the products we buy
• Seize opportunities and learn from senior practitioners
• Enjoy your actions – introducing a bit of fun, like wearing gas masks around the pubs (to highlight the need to protect workers from a smoking work environment) doesn’t take away from the seriousness of the goal

Concerns

• There are 3000 people homeless in Hobart – that needs urgent action
• We need to enshrine our rights in legislation, as a Charter of Rights, eg the right to shelter. That way a failure to provide such rights to our citizens would be actionable
• The ability to defend ourselves from abuse of our rights must be equally accessible and available to everyone

Humanitarian Activities

Ben has chosen to work in an area that matters to him. He volunteers a significant amount of his own time to helping others, and human rights, dignity and justice. This, he says, is his life.

• Writes and contributes to many publications, both print and on line, in support of human rights, and to raise awareness of social justice issues.
• Updating the Tasmanian Law Handbook, a practical guide and resource to assist self-representing citizens. Chapters are available individually, including Youth, Community, Environment and Planning, Consumer Rights, Adoption, De-facto relationships and Housing.
• In his work with the Hobart Community Legal Service he represents many disadvantaged people and groups throughout Tasmania, Most of the work is in social security and discrimination law.
• Written or contributed to many submissions supporting law reform, social justice and human or animal rights, to organisations such as the Attorney-General’s departments, the Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission, the Children’s Commissioner, the Tasmanian Law Reform Institute and the Tasmanian Commissioner for Police. Whilst still at university he and fellow student Simon Gates drafted a Bill based on recommendations from a major conference co-hosted by the Environment Defenders Office and the Planning Institute of Australia, called “Unlocking the Gates – Public Participation in Tasmanian Forest Management”.
• Campaigned for many years for affordable housing. His support for plans for a controversial shelter for the homeless included a lunchtime ‘sleep out’ outside the Town Hall in boxes, as well as undertaking a community survey, and doorknocking to provide accurate information on the proposal. 4000 signatures were collected within 2 weeks, and the proposal was successful.
• Protects the rights of workers through, for example, a submission to the Sexual Worker Legislation taking the position that prostitution will always exist, therefore a just society would try to make it safe for workers, and worked with the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union to make Tasmania the first state to adopt smoke-free pubs, to protect the health of the workers.
• Provides free advice to many community groups, such as the Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group, and Against Animal Cruelty Tasmania. He participated in an inspection of a rogue battery hen farm. When the footage became public (ABC Stateline Program and YouTube (footage available here and here a wealthy benefactor donated $1 million to set up an Animal Justice Fund to be used to prosecute persons or corporations that are cruel to animals, and to provide rewards up to $25,000 for accurate information that leads to successful prosecution.
• Promotes greater awareness of the plight of refugees, including recent actions to highlight the need for a new kind of visa for environmental refugees who will be displaced by global warming.

The Committee is supported by the Office of the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner. For more information about nominations for the Award, or Human Rights Week activities please contact Santi Mariso, Conciliation and Community Education, Tel 03 6216 4427, or Email santi.mariso@justice.tas.gov.au