Media

ADR's processes gain acceptability

The Australian Financial Review - 29 July 2005
By Tim Sullivan, President, The Institute of Arbitrators and Mediators Australia, Melbourne, Vic.

It is pleasing to note the comments made about alternative dispute resolution (ADR) in "Case closed: disputes head out of court"(July 22). Since 1975, the Institute of Arbitrators and Mediators Australia has been training and accrediting professionals from many disciplines (including barristers and solicitors) in arbitration, mediation, adjudication and expert determination.

While some may think it is ironical that lawyers use ADR, the obvious benefit has been that they apply their skills to further refining options now available to parties in dispute, saving the community, including government and industry, millions of dollars.

At our 30th anniversary conference held in Canberra recently, the federal Attorney-General, Philip Ruddock, stressed the importance of Australia's acceptance of ADR and noted that approximately 150 pieces of federal government legislation now include alternative dispute resolution for resolving issues that arise under the legislation.

The trend to widespread adoption of ADR has resulted in our membership of legal professionals increasing significantly. In many cases, ADR processes are not only the "alternative" to litigation but also the most appropriate.

We gratefully acknowledge the permission from Marcus Priest and The Australian Financial Review to reprint this article.