Melbourne barrister Julian Burnside QC has been extensively and consistently involved in pro-bono legal work for asylum seekers (including the well-known Tampa case) - not least through Spare Lawyers for Refugees, which he established in order to encourage other lawyers (now over 250 nationwide) to volunteer their time and professional expertise to help refugees and asylum seekers. He and his wife also established Spare Rooms for Refugees to provide material support and accommodation for refugees in the general community.
He teaches and trains young lawyers internationally and is outspoken about human rights and freedoms in the legal profession, in the media and in the community. In 2004, with Malcolm Fraser, Robert Manne and Young Australian of the Year Hugh Evans, he started The Justice Project - a group that supports basic human rights for all in the community and provides humanitarian assistance in many ways.
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