Briese, Robyn

Robyn has over 15 years of experience advising a broad range of government clients on international law, constitutional law, administrative law and statutory interpretation. She has particular expertise in environmental law, including water and fisheries law, and human rights and discrimination issues. She has worked in the Office of International Law and in both the advising area and Constitutional Litigation Unit of the Office of General Counsel, where she represented the Commonwealth in a number of constitutional cases, including in the High Court case of Forge v ASIC (relating to the constitutional validity of appointing acting judges to State Supreme Courts).

She has had substantial involvement in the development and ongoing implementation of the Water Act 2007 (for which she received an AGS and departmental Australia Day Award) and is experienced in providing legal advice to assist with policy development and the creation of legislative frameworks. She provided significant advice to support the 2012 Independent Review of Commonwealth Fisheries Industry: Legislation, Policy and Management, the 2015–16 Agricultural Export Regulation Review, and the development of the Modern Slavery Act 2018. Robyn also regularly advises on the consistency of proposed government decisions, policies and programs with Australia’s international obligations.

Robyn has published numerous articles on environmental and international law topics. She has also lectured at the Graduate level in Constitutional and Administrative Law at the Australian National University School of Law.