b'Saving the Legislative CouncilTrethowan v PedenIn October 1929 the stock market crashed on Wall Street,Council, Sir John Peden, from presenting the bills to the and the effects were felt around the world. For Australiasgovernor without a referendum. Allen Allen & Hemsley export-r eliant economy, the blow was particularly hard. Byrepresented Trethowan and Playfair in the proceedings1932 Australian unemployment had reached 30 per cent.and appeals. Jack Lang was premier of New South Wales during the worstOn 23 December 1930, in Trethowan v Peden, the Supreme years of the Great Depression. Lang disagreed with his stateCourt of New South Wales upheld the injunction and and federal counterparts over the approach to dealing withordered that the government not present the bills until Australias economic problems. The majority of the countrysthey had been ratified in a referendum. Langs appeal to politicians advocated for economic austerity. Lang believedthe High Court of Australia was dismissed in March 1931. Australia needed to spend on public works and temporarily A subsequent appeal to the Privy Council also failed in May cease interest payments on loans from Britain to recover1932, just after Lang was dismissed by the governor, Philip from the economic calamity facing the nation. Game, for defaulting on the British loans. In 1930, unable to gain the upper house support he In 1933 Langs successor, Bertram Stevens, put forward a needed for his recovery program, Lang put forward tworeferendum through which he gained electoral approvalbills to amend the states Constitution and abolish theto reform but not abolish the Legislative Council. Legislative Council. Despite their controversial nature, the bills were passed by the council in the belief that aIn 1959 Labor leader Robert Heffron was appointed premier referendum would be required before they could becomeof New South Wales and he immediately reinstated the law. Lang, however, had other plans and immediatelypartys policy to abolish the Legislative Council. Heffrons announced he would be presenting the bills for royal attempts to put forward a bill were challenged by opposition assent without a referendum. leader Hector Clayton. Allen Allen & Hemsley supported Clayton in Clayton v Heffron. The Supreme Court found Two members of the council, Arthur Trethowan (later Sirin favour of Heffron. In 1961 a referendum was held to Arthur) and Thomas Playfair, stepped forward on behalf determine the future of the Legislative Counciland the of other members of the council and the cabinet to ensureproposal to abolish the council was rejected by the electorate. the bills were not given royal assent. Before the bills could be presented to the governor, the petitioners were granted an injunction preventing the president of the Legislative 109'