THE HON. WARREN SNOWDON MP
Minister for Defence Science and Personnel
Friday, 4 July 2008
088/2008
SENIOR COUNSEL TO REVIEW HMAS MELBOURNE CLAIMS
The Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, the Hon. Warren Snowdon
MP, announced today that Mr Jeremy Gormly SC will oversee the remaining
unresolved claims from the HMAS Voyager and HMAS Melbourne collision.
“The tragedy cost 82 lives that night and it is terrible that issues related to the
collision are still being heard 44 years later,” said Mr Snowdon.
“We promised before the election in 2007 that a Rudd Labor Government
would undertake a review to progress the mediation of the outstanding
damages claims and following the recommendation of the Attorney-General,
the Hon Robert McClelland MP, Mr Gormly has been appointed to the task.
“Mr Gormly has extensive experience over a range of practice areas, including
common law personal injuries claims. He is an ideal person to review the
litigation and explore ways to advance the remaining 24 claims for damages
by former HMAS Melbourne crew.
“Last year 50 Melbourne cases were resolved through negotiation, with a
further 18 settled this year.
“I am quite sure the review, which will commence immediately, will ensure the
positive results of mediation continue,” said Mr Snowdon.
“Mr Gormly will report to me at the conclusion of his review, and I will discuss
his observations and recommendations with the Attorney General” said Mr
Snowdon.
A CV for Mr Gormly is attached.
Media contacts:
Kate Sieper (Warren Snowdon):
Defence Media Liaison:
02 6277 7620 or 0488 484 689
02 6265 3343 or 0408 498 664
www.defence.gov.au
CURRICULUM VITAE
Jeremy Gormly S.C.
Denman Chambers
7th Floor, 185 Elizabeth St.
Sydney NSW 2000
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
NSW Bar Council
 Elected member of the Council of the New South Wales Bar Association
1991, 1993 to 2001 and again in 2005-6.
 Honorary Secretary New South Wales Bar Council 1994-5 and 2001
 Member NSW Bar Association Planning Committee (2001)
 Member NSW Bar Association IT Committee (2000-2001)
 Member NSW Bar Association Asia Relations Committee (1998)
 Chair NSW Bar Association ADR Committee (1999-2000)
 Chair of the NSW Bar Association Equal Opportunity Committee (2005-6)
 Council member of various NSW Bar Association Professional Conduct
Committees (1990-2000)
 Member of Bar Association Education Committee (1997-2000)
 Member of Bar Association Administration Committee (1994-1995)
 Member of Bar Association Finance Committee (1994-1995)
 Member or appointee of various committees drafting submissions to
Government on a range of legal issues
Other Appointments and Activities
 Board Member of the Legal Practitioners’ Admission Board (2000 to date)
 Member of the Committee of Management of the Barristers’ Benevolent
Association 1991, 1993 to 2001 and 2005 (current)
 Alternate member of the NSW Supreme Court Rule Committee (1999 to
date)
 Lecturer in Legal Ethics – Sydney University Law Extension Committee
(1992 – 94)
 Member of Law Society Working Party on Legal Education (1994-1995)
 Member of the Board of the Barristers’ Sickness and Accident Fund Ltd
1995-1996
 Various school and community committees
 Witness before NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into the powers of ICAC
 Active practise in mediation (principally medical negligence)
PRACTICE AREAS
Medical negligence, inquisitorial proceedings (Royal Commissions, ICAC,
Inquests, Special Commissions etc), personal injury, industrial and related
matters, disciplinary proceedings (principally health care but also legal
practitioners), general common law and appellate proceedings. Extensive
mediation experience as a mediator and appearing for parties in mediations.
CASES
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Hundreds of cases of medical negligence (also end–of-life) for both
Defendant and Plaintiff at first instance and on appeal.
Counsel for Rachel Foster Hospital in West’s case—junior to Dean
Letcher QC (first HIV anti-discrimination case) (1993)
Counsel Assisting the Royal Commissioners in the Commonwealth CAASeaview Commission of Inquiry -junior to Mr David Kirby QC 1994-1996)
Carruthers and CJC v Ryan and Connolly (Sup. Ct. Qld) as Junior to Mr.
Tom Hughes QC for the Attorney General of Queensland in proceedings
contesting the validity of a royal commission (1996)
Counsel for Railway Services Authority in ICAC Inquiry into Railway
Corruption(1997)
Counsel Assisting in the Thredbo Inquest –junior to Ms. R McColl SC
(1997-2000)
Counsel (Junior to Mr Wayne Haylen QC) for the Defendant Unions in the
Hammersley Iron Case Supreme Court Western Australia 2000-2001
Counsel Assisting NSW State Coroner in the Stephens Inquest into a
Police shooting (2000-01).
Counsel Assisting ICAC Commissioner Irene Moss in Tridopi Inquiry
(alleged cover-up by Speaker of the House of sexual assault in NSW
Parliament House) as junior to Ms. Ruth McColl S.C. (2000).
Counsel Assisting ICAC Collapse of the NSW Grains Board (2002-2003)
Counsel for 20 Plaintiffs in the Thredbo Commercial claims before Grove
J Supreme Court NSW (2000-2002)
Counsel for the Plaintiff in Haywood v Collaroy Services Beach Club Ltd
the last civil jury personal injury damages trial in NSW
Counsel Assisting ICAC Commissioner Mr Ian Harrison S.C. in the
Orange Grove Inquiry (2004-2005)
Counsel Assisting Corruption and Crime Commission into contracts let by
Perth Central TAFE
Counsel Assisting the Corruption and Crime Commission (W.A.) Inquiry
into the wrongful murder conviction of Andrew Mark Mallard (2006-2008)
LECTURES, SPEECHES AND PAPERS
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Numerous lectures, articles book reviews and papers on medical
negligence, electronic courtrooms, courtroom advocacy, practice and
procedure, inquisitorial proceedings, pure economic loss, mediation, legal
ethics and constitutional issues to legal and non-legal groups.