A touching tribute by Emeritus Professor David Hambly following the recent passing of Honorary Professor Peter Bailey AM OBE.
Professor David Hambly FAAL
Emeritus Professor
LLB (Melb.); LLM (Harv.); Barrister & Solicitor Vic. & ACT
ANU College of Law, Bld 7, Fellows Rd, Acton ACT 2600
ANU College of Law, 5 Fellows Rd, Acton ACT 2600
Biography
Early in his career, Emeritus Professor David Hambly was prominent in the creation and development of Australian family law as a field of research and teaching, and in the movement for reform of family law. As a Commissioner of the Australian Law Reform Commission, he produced a comprehensive report on the law of matrimonial property, which drew upon innovative empirical research projects conducted with the Family Court of Australia and the Australian Institute of Family Studies. As a member of the Family Law Council, he contributed to advice to the government during a turbulent period for the administration of family law in Australia.
David’s teaching and research interests in criminal law and the administration of criminal justice were reflected in 26 years as a member of the Sentence Administration Board of the ACT (formerly the Parole Board), including 14 years as the Chair.
He is a co-author, in a long partnership with Professor Harold Luntz, of Torts: Cases and Commentary, a widely prescribed text (1st edition, 1980; 7th edition, 2013). The 8th edition will be published in 2016.
He did two tours of duty as Dean of Law at ANU. He is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law.
Appointments
His appointments include:
- Commissioner, Australian Law Reform Commission, 1983–89
- Commissioner in charge and principal author, report on Matrimonial Property (1987) ALRC Report No39
- Member, Family Law Council, 1980–85
- Chair, Sentence Administration Board of the ACT (formerly the Parole Board of the ACT), 1991–2005; previously a member of the Board 1979–91
- Member, Editorial Board, Torts Law Journal 1992–99.
Recent news
09
Jun
2017
If you're studying for exams and feeling like you might need some luck, perhaps you should stop past the ANU College of Law's Law Library and rub the nose of Sir Robert Garran's bust.
Research biography
Early in his career, Emeritus Professor David Hambly was prominent in the creation and development of Australian family law as a field of research and teaching, and in the movement for reform of family law. As a Commissioner of the Australian Law Reform Commission, he produced a comprehensive report on the law of matrimonial property, which drew upon innovative empirical research projects conducted with the Family Court of Australia and the Australian Institute of Family Studies. As a member of the Family Law Council, he contributed to advice to the government during a turbulent period for the administration of family law in Australia.
David’s teaching and research interests in criminal law and the administration of criminal justice were reflected in 26 years as a member of the Sentence Administration Board of the ACT (formerly the Parole Board), including 14 years as the Chair.
He is a co-author, in a long partnership with Professor Harold Luntz, of Torts: Cases and Commentary, a widely prescribed text (1st edition, 1980; 7th edition, 2013). The 8th edition will be published in 2016.
He did two tours of duty as Dean of Law at ANU. He is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law.
