Career highlights

• Alastair was a barrister for 19 years and appointed as Queen's Counsel in 1979
• Appointed to the Supreme Court of Victoria in 1982 as Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia and a Justice of the Federal Court of Australia in 1988 - retired from those positions in 2004

• Chair of NCAB and a Professorial Fellow of Melbourne University since 2003 and an Officer of the Order of Australia since 1991.

Question and answer

Why is the issue of bullying of particular interest to you?

Bullying has always troubled me from school days and particularly seeing its effects within the Court system and in the area of family and children's law.

Where do you believe you have made a difference in your field?

I believe that I have been able to make a difference over the years in bringing children's issues to the forefront and furthering the need for greater recognition of chidren's rights, as set out in the UN convention on the Rights of the Child. As such, I have been a long-term opponent of the physical punishment of children.

How has your area of expertise helped you to contribute to NCAB over the years?

I believe that my legal and human rights experience has enabled me to contribute to NCAB over the years.