EXPERIENCE & EXPERTISE

Anne’s experience includes working within State Government in the instructing and drafting process for legislation. Prior to pursuing a career in the law, Anne worked for 4-5 years as an advisor to various State Government Ministers including three Ministers for Local Government and Regional Development, a Minister for Planning and Infrastructure and a Minister for Housing and Works.

Anne regularly provides statutory interpretation advice in written form and in court. She routinely appears in the courts in relation to Building Act 2011 and Planning and Development Act 2005 prosecutions and appeals. Anne appears in the Magistrates Court of WA, the District Court of WA, the Supreme Court, the Federal Magistrates Court and the State Administrative Tribunal. In addition she acts for government agencies in relation to governance and procedural fairness matters and Freedom of Information matters.

Anne has presented a number of training seminars to the Australian Institute of Building Surveyors and regularly presents to the Local Government Compliance Officers Associations on the Planning and Development Act 2005 enforcement options and the legal and practical issues with using those options.

Anne’s legal experience and government background result in a unique mix of transferrable skills in the provision of legal services in relation to government, planning and environmental law. She is known for her friendly, approachable and practical style of providing legal advice.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Anne acted in the important appeal, Mocilac v City of Fremantle [2014] WASC 56, which confirmed her previously unconfirmed statutory interpretation of the Planning and Development Act 2005 and the Criminal Procedure Act 2004.

Anne also acted for the City of Armadale in the matter of Kaizen Property Developments Pty Ltd and City Of Armadale  [2017] WASAT 123 where the statutory interaction between the R Codes and the City of Armadale Local Planning Scheme No 4 was in issue. The City of Armadale’s interpretation was preferred by SAT resulting in clarity about “due regard” in relation to the R Codes where a Scheme specifically deals with R Codes application.

Anne was also the Counsel in Henville and City of Armadale [2018] WASAT 108 which is the leading case on what is a park home.