Andrew Boe | The Art of Persuasion

FIRST NATIONS COLLABORATION

Listening before speaking.

Andrew has never sought to speak for First Nations peoples collectively. He has, however, often been asked to represent individual First Nations people, families and communities in their encounters with the colonial justice system.

Five of his six children are Butchulla from K’gari, making questions of race, skin colour, culture, family and belonging personal as well as professional.

For more than three decades, First Nations justice has been part of Andrew’s life and work. A selection of these cases and engagements are detailed in his Legal Curriculum Vitae.

Some of the most important work of his career has grown from long relationships.

Five of his six children are Butchulla from K’gari, making questions of race, skin colour, culture, family and belonging personal as well as professional.

For more than three decades, First Nations justice has been part of Andrew’s life and work. A selection of these cases and engagements are detailed in his Legal Curriculum Vitae.

Some of the most important work of his career has grown from long relationships.

LEGAL CV

SOME OF THE WORK

MINJERRIBAH

Native title

Work for families on Minjerribah, formerly North Stradbroke Island, as they dealt with native title issues — the relationships from which much of what followed grew.

PALM ISLAND

The Mulrunji matters

Represented the Doomadgee family for about a decade across multiple coronial inquests and associated litigation. The subject of Chloe Hooper’s The Tall Man and Blackfella Films’ screen adaptation.

YEUNDUMU

The Kumanjayi Walker inquest

Led a legal team for the Walker, Lane and Robertson families, including with his First Nations daughter Greer Boe, a Victorian barrister. Coordinated related representation involving the Brown family and Yuendumu community over five years, much of it pro bono.

HIGH COURT

Munda v Western Australia

Lead counsel in the High Court on the treatment of First Nations disadvantage in sentencing — one of several appeals testing the legal system on issues affecting First Nations clients.

WHAT THE RELATIONSHIP TAUGHT

Consultation is not the same as collaboration.

These relationships have reinforced the importance of listening before speaking, building trust before seeking outcomes, and distinguishing legal permission, editorial power and cultural legitimacy.

Authentic storytelling requires more than consultation. It requires time, accountability and clear expectations.

Projects including 2.6 Seconds: Death in the Outback have been shaped by those principles. Andrew does not claim to speak for First Nations people. His role is to bring experience, judgement and sustained relationships to work developed in genuine collaboration with the people whose lives and communities are represented.

Collaboration is not a process imposed on a story. It is part of the story’s integrity.

Sydney, Australia

ab@andrewboe.com.au

Every project begins with listening.

MEDIA AND CONTACT

Sydney, Australia

ab@andrewboe.com.au

Every project begins with listening.

MEDIA AND CONTACT

Sydney, Australia

ab@andrewboe.com.au

Every project begins with listening.

MEDIA AND CONTACT