Prime Minister John Howard has blamed lawyers for encouraging litigation in Australia and consequently fuelling the current public liability crisis. “I think the decision to allow lawyers to advertise was a disastrous mistake,” he told Parliament after being asked about the explosion in public liability premiums that is forcing tourism operators, community groups and charities around Australia to cancel events and close down.

 “I think the way in which many lawyers tout for personal accident business is a great pity and I think everybody has to carry some of the blame,” he said. “One of the difficulties is that because of the growth of this litigious mentality in our society, people’s expectations have been ratcheted up and we’re all victims of it.”

NSW has already banned solicitors advertising personal injury claims in the electronic media. Will other governments follow suit, and would it do much good, anyway?

The concern about rising public liability premiums will be discussed in a Canberra meeting of state and federal ministers later this month. Don’t expect lightning progress, with various sectors of the industry and the legal fraternity yet to weigh in with their viewpoints.