Early in his career, Emeritus Professor David Hambly was prominent in the creation and development of Australian family law as a field of research and teaching, and in the movement for reform of family law. As a Commissioner of the Australian Law Reform Commission, he produced a comprehensive report on the law of matrimonial property, which drew upon innovative empirical research projects conducted with the Family Court of Australia and the Australian Institute of Family Studies. As a member of the Family Law Council, he contributed to advice to the government during a turbulent period for the administration of family law in Australia.
David’s teaching and research interests in criminal law and the administration of criminal justice were reflected in 26 years as a member of the Sentence Administration Board of the ACT (formerly the Parole Board), including 14 years as the Chair.
He is a co-author, in a long partnership with Professor Harold Luntz, of Torts: Cases and Commentary, a widely prescribed text (1st edition, 1980; 7th edition, 2013). The 8th edition will be published in 2016.
He did two tours of duty as Dean of Law at ANU. He is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law.
Appointments
His appointments include:
- Commissioner, Australian Law Reform Commission, 1983–89
- Commissioner in charge and principal author, report on Matrimonial Property (1987) ALRC Report No39
- Member, Family Law Council, 1980–85
- Chair, Sentence Administration Board of the ACT (formerly the Parole Board of the ACT), 1991–2005; previously a member of the Board 1979–91
- Member, Editorial Board, Torts Law Journal 1992–99.
Research biography
Early in his career, Emeritus Professor David Hambly was prominent in the creation and development of Australian family law as a field of research and teaching, and in the movement for reform of family law. As a Commissioner of the Australian Law Reform Commission, he produced a comprehensive report on the law of matrimonial property, which drew upon innovative empirical research projects conducted with the Family Court of Australia and the Australian Institute of Family Studies. As a member of the Family Law Council, he contributed to advice to the government during a turbulent period for the administration of family law in Australia.
David’s teaching and research interests in criminal law and the administration of criminal justice were reflected in 26 years as a member of the Sentence Administration Board of the ACT (formerly the Parole Board), including 14 years as the Chair.
He is a co-author, in a long partnership with Professor Harold Luntz, of Torts: Cases and Commentary, a widely prescribed text (1st edition, 1980; 7th edition, 2013). The 8th edition will be published in 2016.
He did two tours of duty as Dean of Law at ANU. He is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law.
