Thursday 19 March – Conference Dinner presentation

Tim Robertson, SC in his Conference Dinner presentation at the Melbourne conference Natural Resources – the Key to Western Sahara’s Future, 19 March 2015 argues that exploration and exploitation cannot be meaningfully separated in practice. He calls into question a crucial distinction in Hans Corell’s 2002 UN legal opinion on oil exploration licences in Western Sahara.
Accepting Robertson’s view would mean that no prospective activity licensed by Morocco can take place in the non-self-governing territory of Western Sahara until a referendum of self-determination is held.
Conference Details: http://www.sahararesourcesday.info

Watch Tim’s speech on YouTube >>

Tim Robertson is a senior NSW barrister and civil libertarian with a very broad practice, predominantly in environmental, property, native title and public law, including public international law.
He advises governments, corporations and NGOs in the Asia-Pacific Region.
This talk, not listed on the program, was given at the Conference Dinner on19 March 2015, at the Angliss Restaurant, 550 Little Lonsdale Street Melbourne.