Peter Cain

Position details

Lecturer

Qualifications

LL.B (QUT)

Career highlights

Peter Cain is an experienced lawyer with a deep passion for education. He obtained a Bachelor of Laws from the Queensland University of Technology in 1988. Peter has had over 15 years background working as a lawyer in both public and private practice. Peter commenced work at AMC in July 2004, bringing with him a wealth of practical legal and policy experience.

The base of Peter's legal experience is in litigation and advisory work. His particular specialisation is in native title, indigenous law and the recognition of customary indigenous rights. In 1989, Peter worked on the Trial of Facts in the Mabo No. 2 case before the Supreme Court of Queensland, which included work in the Torres Strait. Peter also worked on preparing Queensland's response to the Commission of Inquiry into Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Deaths in Custody.

Peter then worked for 7 years within the Queensland Government when it was at the nub of the development of native title and indigenous law (1993-1999). During that time, Peter held senior positions within the Crown Solicitors Office and the Premiers Department.

Peter was critically involved in major native title litigation before the Supreme Court, Federal Court and High Court. The High Court cases included the noted Waanyi, Wik and Yanner cases. In addition, he was the lead lawyer in significant indigenous cultural heritage matters heard before the Federal Court.

Peter worked in the Department of Premier and Cabinet from 1997 to 1999, which greatly increased his knowledge and skills in policy planning, development and implementation.

Peter then worked for 3 years (2000-2002) at international law firm, Blake Dawson Waldron, practicing in native title, indigenous and resource laws. This experience gave him valuable resource industry perspective, particularly in the commercial resolution of disputes between industry, indigenous people and government.

In the course of his legal work, Peter greatly enjoyed the opportunities it offered to provide training and education. This love of education and a long held desire to live somewhere quieter and cooler led Peter to move with his young family to Tasmania in 2003. In 2003 and 2004, Peter studied for a Bachelor of Teaching through the University of Tasmania.

Marine and maritime experience

In his previous working life, Peter has had significant practical working experience in legal and policy matters involving the marine environment. His experience included:

• Drafting a number of far-reaching advices regarding the interaction of Queensland marine legislation with native title rights and interests.

• Appearing in numerous native title sea claims before the National Native Title Tribunal and the Federal Court.

• Working closely with the Queensland Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Primary Industries to help ensure that offshore licensing and approval regimes fully incorporated the requirements of native title law.

• Acting for a large resource company (Pasminco Century Mine Limited) in the first litigated native title sea claim in Queensland (The Lardil Peoples v. State of Queensland [2004] FCA 298).

Teaching

From 2004-2006, Peter worked in the Department of Fisheries and Marine Environment at AMC. During this time, Peter co-ordinated and delivered a variety of undergraduate units, both face to face and by videoconference (Introduction to Marine Policy and Law, Administrative Law and Environmental and Fisheries Law). Peter also taught in a variety of short courses ranging from postgraduate teaching to specialist training (pacific patrol officers training).   

In 2007, Peter transferred within AMC to join the Centre for Ports and Shipping. He is teaching a number of units (Business Law and International Maritime Policy) and is looking forward to new teaching opportunities utilising his previous commercial experience.

Associated activities

Peter is currently studying for a Graduate Certificate in University Learning and Teaching through the University of Tasmania.

Research activities

In 2004, Peter worked for the Native Title Studies Centre of James Cook University in researching, compiling and drafting a guide for the National Native Title Tribunal (NNTT). That extensive guide entitled "A practical guide to government and regulation regimes over marine areas in Queensland" was published in June 2004. The guide was fully revised and republished by the NNTT in September 2005 (http://www.nntt.gov.au/research/files/Guide_marine_areas_Qld.pdf).

Peter is interested in various research topics ranging from effective teaching and learning to the legal recognition of customary indigenous rights.

Contact

Australian Maritime College
PO Box 986, Launceston
Tasmania, Australia, 7250

Telephone: +61 (0)3 63354752
Fax: +61 (0)3 63354720
Email: p.cain@amc.edu.au