Abbott, Olivia

Olivia has over 15 years of experience in public law. She is highly regarded as a leading adviser on financial and public governance issues. Her other key areas of expertise include constitutional law, statutory interpretation, employment law, work health and safety, taxation law and information law.

She has advised extensively on the Commonwealth’s constitutional powers, and the functions and powers of Commonwealth entities established by statute. She has significant experience assisting clients to implement machinery of government changes, including by advising on appropriations and staff movements. Olivia also assists clients with significant legislative projects. She has advised on the establishment of a number of new Commonwealth entities, with her advice addressing both the Commonwealth’s constitutional power to create entities to perform particular functions, and various practical issues (such as staffing and governance issues) associated with establishing a new entity. She was also closely involved in the development of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013. Olivia holds a Master of Taxation and has previous experience working as an in-house government lawyer.