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Draft:Michael Abbott

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Michael Abbott
AO KC
6th Deputy Chancellor of the University of South Australia
In office
May 2024 – 31 March 2026
ChancellorJohn Hill
Preceded byJohn Hill
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Personal details
BornMichael Lewis Abbott
(1942-07-23) 23 July 1942 (age 84)
Spouse(s)
Mary
​
(m. 1969)​

Susan Crafter
Children4
Education
Occupation
  • Barrister
  • art collector
Signature

Michael Lewis Abbott (born 23 July 1942) is a lawyer, art collector, and philanthropist in Australia. He was the sixth and last deputy chancellor of the University of South Australia (UniSA) from 2024 to 2026. His legal practice has been varied, dealing with criminal defense cases and appearing before royal commissions. His public service includes legal aid work and arts administration.

Abbott was a student at St Peter's College, Adelaide, graduating in law from the University of Adelaide in 1964. He did his articles with John Jefferson Bray and worked as associate to Justice Leo Travers before he was admitted to the bar in 1966. He went into private practice and became a member of the Independent Bar in 1982, when he was made Queen's Counsel in 1984.

Abbott was counsel for Edward Charles Splatt before the Royal Commission into the conviction for murder and appeared in the Salisbury Inquiry, State Bank Inquiry, Hindmarsh Island Bridge Inquiry and Cole Inquiry. He was president of the South Australian Bar Association from 1996 to 1998 and chair of the Legal Services Commission of South Australia from 2013 to 2020. He was also chair of the Australia–India Council, Australia–Malaysia Institute, Art Gallery of South Australia (AGSA) and the Adelaide Festival Centre Trust.

An admirer of Asian art from the 1960s onwards, Abbott has contributed ceramics, textiles, and other art works to various Australian public institutions like AGSA, the Australian Museum, and Flinders University. AGSA dedicated its Southeast Asian gallery after his name and also showcased Interwoven Journeys: The Michael Abbott Collection of Asian Art from 2022 to 2023.

Abbott was awarded the Centenary Medal in 2001 and the title of Officer of the Order of Australia in 2011 for services in the visual arts, arts education, Australia–Asia relationships, and law. In 2025, Abbott has been conferred an honorary Doctor of the University by UniSA and honorary life membership of the Law Society of South Australia.

Early life and education

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Michael Lewis Abbott was born on 23 July 1942, the son of H. L. and S. Abbot.[1] He attended St Peter's College in Adelaide before studying at the University of Adelaide. Abbott initially intended to study anthropology, but the university did not offer a course in the subject at the time. He instead studied law, graduating in 1964.[2]

Career

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Abbott worked on his articles with John Jefferson Bray and worked as associate to Justice Leo Travers in 1965.[1] After being admitted to practice law in 1966, he set up his own practice in Adelaide's Steamship Building. Abbott first gained experience in a substantial amount of Magistrates Court business before moving to criminal trials.[3]

Abbott was admitted to the Independent Bar in 1982[1] and set up Wellington Chambers in partnership with Simon Stretton. The chambers were moved and named Market Street Chambers in January 1986 before becoming Mitchell Chambers in November 1991.[4] In 1983-1984, he appeared for Edward Charles Splatt at the royal commission that was hearing about Splatt's murder conviction.[5] Abbott was appointed Queen's Counsel (QC) in South Australia in 1984.[1]

Throughout his legal career, Abbott has appeared in the Supreme Courts of all states and territories of Australia, the Federal Court of Australia and the High Court of Australia. He has also chaired the Criminal Law Committee of the Law Society of South Australia.[6] Abbott's involvement with the royal commissions included Salisbury, State Bank and Hindmarsh Island Bridge royal commissions.[3]

From the 1990s, Abbott defended Bevan Spencer von Einem's case for clemency without any pay.[7] He later worked on the Australia–India Council between 1992 and 1998.[8] While participating in the Hindmarsh Island Bridge controversy of 1995,[9] he defended the Aboriginal women who contested the issue of secret women's business regarding the building of the bridge. He and his colleague, solicitor Robert Piper, took up the matter pro bono.[10]

From September 1996 until October 1998, Abbott was the president of the South Australian Bar Association.[11] In his role as president, he commented that the remuneration paid to private practitioners carrying out legal aid work was inadequate.[12] In 1998, Abbott presided over the first Australian Universities International Alumni Convention in Adelaide. He was representing the three universities of South Australia in alumni affairs.[13]

Abbott was appointed chairman of the Australia–India Council on 31 March 1999[8] and was reappointed in May 2002 for a period of three years.[14] He joined Bar Chambers from 2000 to 2007.[15] Also, in April 2005, Abbott was appointed member of the Human Rights Observer Panel of the Law Council of Australia, which made recommendations for trials needing trial observers in order to ensure fair trial rights.[16] The same month, his nomination for chairmanship of the Australia–Malaysia Institute was announced.[17][18] In 2006, Abbott acted as counsel for six officers from AWB Limited in the Cole Inquiry concerning payments connected with export of wheat to Iraq.[19]

He became a member of the board of E&A Limited in October 2007[7] and worked as chairman of its Audit Committee until he resigned on 2 June 2016.[20] Abbott was also a member of the board of South Australian Tourism Commission.[21][22] In September 2008, he representing Mark Wilhelm, who was being charged with manslaughter and illegal supply of drugs in the death of Dianne Brimble on the cruise ship, Pacific Sky, in 2002.[23]

In 2010, Abbott acted as counsel for construction worker Ark Tribe in the case involving Tribe's decision not to appear for compulsory questioning before the Australian Building and Construction Commission.[24][25] Also in 2011, he conducted a private investigation on sexual misconduct claims by the Catholic Church against Archbishop John Hepworth. The result of his investigation was that the claims were unsubstantiated.[7] In January 2012, Abbott represented Mayor Lachlan Clyne in the matter relating to an email sent in 2010 during the council election campaign.[26] In September that year, Abbott obtained legal costs for former Senator Mary Jo Fisher in relation to the matters of shoplifting and assault.[27]

Later career

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From 12 December 2013 to 19 January 2020, Abbott held the position of chair of the Legal Services Commission of South Australia.[28] In that capacity, he challenged any reduction in family and criminal law services and called for improvements in access to justice in rural and remote areas.[12] Abbott was appointed as the chairman of the Adelaide Festival Centre Trust on 15 December 2014.[29]

Abbott has also acted for South Australian politicians Tom Koutsantonis and Leesa Vlahos during the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption's (ICAC) investigation into the Gillman land deal and the Oakden institution, respectively. In August 2018, he testified before the parliamentary committee to speak against the investigative process of the commission.[30][31]

Abbott was appointed to the University of South Australia (UniSA) Council in 2019.[32] In June 2020, he welcomed the completion of the $66 million redevelopment of Her Majesty's Theatre.[33] That month, Jim Hazel was announced as his successor as chair of the Adelaide Festival Centre Trust.[34] In March 2021, Abbott testified before a South Australian parliamentary select committee investigating harms caused by an ICAC investigation, criticising parts of the investigation referred to as "Operation Bandicoot".[35]

In 2024, Abbott defended Zachary Rolfe during the coronial inquest into the death of Kumanjayi Walker that took place in the Northern Territory.[36] That year, he was also among eleven King's Counsel (KC) involved in correspondence with Chief Justice Chris Kourakis concerning remarks about senior counsel and their clients, amid debate over replacing the KC designation with Senior Counsel.[37] Obenox, whose board members include Abbott and his second wife, lodged plans for a 14-story development with 36 units of social housing on 2 April 2025 at 8 Hocking Place, Adelaide.[38]

Abbott was made the deputy chancellor of UniSA in May of that year.[32] During this period, in July 2025, Abbott defended the Premier Peter Malinauskas against the malice prosecution lawsuit filed by Annabel and Greg Digance seeking A$2.3 million in damages.[39] His deputy chancellorship ended on 31 March 2026, when the university was formally disestablished.[40][41]

Art collection

[edit]

Abbott developed an interest in Asian art in the 1960s through his aunt, who introduced him to Chinese and Japanese art. After graduating in law, he travelled to Indonesia and began collecting Chinese ceramics, later expanding his interests to sculpture and textiles, particularly Indonesian ikat and batik. He travelled extensively throughout Indonesia and became fluent in Indonesian.[2]

In 1976, Abbott made his first donation to AGSA, beginning a longstanding association with its Asian art collection.[42] To mark the new millennium, he and his family donated 200 textiles to the gallery. By that time, his donations of Asian and Indian textiles and ceramics to Australian public collections exceeded $1.5 million in value.[13] He subsequently served as the gallery's chairman from 2002 to 2014.[2][42]

By 2006, Abbott had donated Indonesian and Indian trade textiles to the gallery, including eight rare early Balinese court textiles.[43] Works he donated featured in the exhibitions Crescent Moon: Islamic Art and Civilization in Southeast Asia in 2006 and Beneath the Winds: Masterpieces of Southeast Asian Art in 2011.[2]

Sometime around 2007, Abbott acquired a villa in Sanur, Bali, and restored it along with his second wife, filling it with textiles and artworks.[2] Following this, AGSA received a further donation of seventy-five rare fabrics and artifacts, estimated to be worth $2 million, in July 2008.[44] In 2011, AGSA dedicated its Southeast Asia Gallery to him. His total number of donations to the gallery made since 1976 included some 1,000 objects worth more than $3 million.[7]

As of April 2017, the value of the donations that Abbott made to AGSA amounted to approximately $6 million. He also donated textiles to the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory and helped curator James Bennett with the Speaking with Cloth (Cerita Dalam Kain) project. His collection of Indian textiles bearing the stamps of the Dutch East India Company was donated to the National Gallery of Australia.[2]

In 2018, Abbott donated 20 Balinese artworks to Charles Darwin University, including a ceremonial dagger, masks and sculptures used in dance dramas, together with a set of wayang kulit shadow puppets. The works featured in Taksu: The Art of Bali – Recent Gifts to the CDU Art Collection, held at the university's art gallery from 24 October 2019 to 14 March 2020.[45]

Abbott made a donation of about 2,300 Asian trade ceramics, estimated to be worth $1.5 million, to Flinders University to use in conducting archaeological studies. The ceramics, produced between the 10th and 18th centuries in China, Vietnam and Thailand, were used as part of the trade process to obtain spices, resins, and sandalwood in Indonesia. The ceramics collection was subjected to studies conducted by an archaeologist Martin Polkinghorne to investigate the provenance of the artifacts and their relationship to originating communities.[46]

The Abbott donation of over 300 predominantly Balinese artworks to the Australian Museum in March 2021 consisted of textiles, masks, paintings, woodcarvings, ritual items, two palm leaf manuscripts and carvings of doors from Nusa Penida, thereby increasing the Balinese collection at the museum to about 1,200.[47]

AGSA hosted an exhibition Interwoven Journeys: The Michael Abbott Collection of Asian Art from 3 December 2022 to 2 July 2023. It highlighted the contributions made by Abbott through donations of art from South and Southeast Asia, especially from Bali, Sumatra and Java. The exhibition included the display of the oldest known complete Indonesian batik textile.[48]

Personal life

[edit]

Abbott was married to Mary in 1969, and they had three daughters and a son.[1] Their children include Tom Abbott, a criminal lawyer at Camatta Lempens, and Kate, who worked for Families SA.[2]

In the late 1970s, Abbott and his friend bought three surplus Ferret armoured scout cars, two of which were restored.[2]

Susan Jane Crafter, Abbott's second wife, was the honorary French consul of South Australia. His residences were in Adelaide, Port Willunga and Bali.[2]

Honours and awards

[edit]

Abbott was bestowed with the Centenary Medal on 1 January 2001 for service to Australian society through law, arts, and education.[49] The Indo–Australian Award for Meritorious Service to the Bilateral Relationship was presented to him in 2002.[6]

In 2010, the Gallery 21 of AGSA was named after Michael Abbott because of his contributions.[50] He was conferred with the appointment of Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) on 26 January 2011 for distinguished service to the visual arts, especially through leadership, arts education, Australia-Asia relations, and law.[51][52]

UniSA honoured him with an honorary Doctor of the University on 17 April 2025 during the graduation ceremony that took place in Pridham Hall.[32] That year, he was also conferred with the honorary life membership of the Law Society of South Australia for his contributions to law, arts and cross-cultural relations.[53][54]

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Emerson, John (2006). History of the Independent Bar of South Australia. Papinian Publishing. p. 145. ISBN 9780863968358. Retrieved 23 October 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Debelle, Penny (7 April 2017). "Devil's advocate: Meet SA's courtroom king Michael Abbott, QC". SA Weekend. Retrieved 22 October 2026 – via Adelaide Now.
  3. 1 2 "Going it alone: Michael Abbott" (PDF). The Bulletin. No. 135th Anniversary Special Publication. Law Society of South Australia. 2014. pp. 48–49. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 October 2026. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
  4. ↑ "History". Mitchell Chambers. Archived from the original on 22 November 2025. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
  5. ↑ "Stewart Cockburn wins Walkley honours for crusading journalism mainly with 'The Advertiser' in Adelaide". Adelaide AZ. Archived from the original on 22 October 2026. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
  6. 1 2 "A Business Luncheon with Michael Abbott AO QC". Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce. Archived from the original on 17 March 2022. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Fewster, Sean; Emmerson, Russell (3 December 2011). "Michael Abbott, QC, lord of the courts". Adelaide Now. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
  8. 1 2 "Board members". Australia–India Council Annual Report 1998–1999 (Report). Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. 1999. Archived from the original on 22 October 2026. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
  9. ↑ Pritchard, Stephen (2000). "Between Fact and Fiction: The Hindmarsh Island 'Affair' and the Truth about Secrets". Jouvert: A Journal of Postcolonial Studies. 4 (2). Archived from the original on 6 December 2025. Retrieved 23 October 2026.
  10. ↑ Emerson, John (9 July 2009). "Oral Histories Interview | Mr Robert Piper". Law Society of South Australia. Archived from the original on 22 October 2026. Retrieved 23 October 2026.
  11. ↑ "History & Past Presidents". South Australian Bar Association. Archived from the original on 21 May 2026. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
  12. 1 2 Hunt, Nigel (5 June 2015). "Lunch with Michael Abbott, QC". The Advertiser. Archived from the original on 10 July 2015. Retrieved 23 October 2026.
  13. 1 2 "Top QC to chair Helpmann Academy" (PDF). Adelaidean. University of Adelaide. November 2001. p. 11. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 April 2007. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
  14. ↑ Downer, Alexander (23 May 2002). "Australia-India Council Chairman reappointed" (Press release). Australian High Commission, New Delhi. Archived from the original on 25 March 2025. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
  15. ↑ "About". Bar Chambers. Archived from the original on 23 October 2026. Retrieved 23 October 2026.
  16. ↑ "Legal panel to protect Aussie nationals". Lawyers Weekly. 15 April 2005. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
  17. ↑ Howard, John (7 April 2005). "Address to the Parliamentary Luncheon Great Hall, Parliament House". PM Transcripts. Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Archived from the original on 11 April 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
  18. ↑ Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade (March 2007). "Chapter 2: Country-to-country links". Australia’s relationship with Malaysia (Report). Parliament of Australia. Paragraph 2.19. Archived from the original on 22 October 2026. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
  19. ↑ E&A Limited ASX announcement (PDF) (Report). E&A Limited. p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 October 2026. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
  20. ↑ E&A Limited (2 June 2016). "Non-Executive Director Resignation" (PDF) (Press release). p. 1. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 October 2026. Retrieved 22 October 2026 – via Australian Securities Exchange.
  21. ↑ "Appointments, Resignations, Etc" (PDF). South Australian Government Gazette (64): 4348. 3 September 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 December 2025. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
  22. ↑ "Appointments, Resignations, Etc" (PDF). South Australian Government Gazette (65): 4386. 10 September 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 December 2025. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
  23. ↑ "Wilhelm to contest Brimble manslaughter charge: lawyer". ABC News. 11 September 2008. Archived from the original on 29 October 2016. Retrieved 23 October 2026.
  24. ↑ "Unionist fights industrial laws in court". ABC News. 15 June 2010. Archived from the original on 30 October 2016. Retrieved 23 October 2026.
  25. ↑ "Industrial laws case adjourned for two months". ABC News. 23 July 2010. Archived from the original on 30 October 2016. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
  26. ↑ "Unley Mayor to challenge charges". ABC News. 13 January 2012. Archived from the original on 31 October 2016. Retrieved 23 October 2026.
  27. ↑ Marcus, Candice (5 September 2012). "Police must foot part of ex-senator's legal bill". ABC News. Archived from the original on 14 August 2026. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
  28. ↑ Annual Report 2019–2020 (PDF) (Report). Legal Services Commission of South Australia. 2020. p. 72. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 October 2026.
  29. ↑ Annual Report 2015–16 (PDF) (Report). Adelaide Festival Centre Trust. 2016. p. 11. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 April 2025. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
  30. ↑ Dayman, Isabel (15 August 2018). "Leading South Australian barrister Michael Abbott attacks 'trial by ambush' ICAC". ABC News. Archived from the original on 4 August 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
  31. ↑ Siebert, Bension (27 August 2018). "ICAC rejects QC's "star chamber", abuse of power claims". InDaily. Archived from the original on 22 October 2026. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
  32. 1 2 3 Graduation Booklet: April 2025 (PDF). University of South Australia. April 2025. p. 77. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 December 2025. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
  33. ↑ Noble, Kelly (19 June 2020). "Her Majesty's Theatre Raises Curtain On $66 Million Redevelopment". Glam Adelaide. Archived from the original on 21 July 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2026.
  34. ↑ Snee, Peter J (19 June 2020). "Adelaide Festival Centre Trust appoints new Chair and Member". AussieTheatre.com. Archived from the original on 20 July 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
  35. ↑ Prosser, Candice (26 March 2021). "Inquiry hears $10 wrench taken from fictitious crime scene was at the centre of corruption charges against police officer". ABC News. Archived from the original on 26 December 2022. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
  36. ↑ Brissenden, Neve (1 March 2024). "Rolfe to wrap up evidence in Walker death inquest". National Indigenous Times. Australian Associated Press. Archived from the original on 30 November 2025. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
  37. ↑ "King's Counsel title in 2024 scrapped in future for senior barristers in South Australia despite backlash within system". Adelaide AZ. Archived from the original on 23 October 2026. Retrieved 23 October 2026.
  38. ↑ Della Bosca, Leon (2 April 2025). "Adelaide Social Housing Plan Tests Height Limits". The Urban Developer. Archived from the original on 10 June 2026. Retrieved 23 October 2026.
  39. ↑ Richards, Stephanie; Bermingham, Kathryn (9 August 2025). "No finding of guilt in blackmail case against former MP and husband, court reveals". ABC News. Archived from the original on 7 April 2026. Retrieved 23 October 2026.
  40. ↑ "Adelaide University Act 2023" (PDF). South Australian Legislation. Version: 31 March 2026. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 May 2026. Retrieved 8 October 2026.
  41. ↑ Academic Board Minutes 2/2024 (PDF) (Report). University of South Australia. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 July 2026. Retrieved 8 October 2026.
  42. 1 2 "Timeline". Art Gallery of South Australia. Archived from the original on 15 May 2026. Retrieved 21 October 2026.
  43. ↑ Annual Report 2005–2006 (PDF) (Report). Art Gallery of South Australia. 2006. p. 24. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 April 2022. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
  44. ↑ Lloyd, Tim (18 July 2008). "Barrister's $2m gift of rare Asian art". Visions Art. Archived from the original on 23 October 2026. Retrieved 23 October 2026.
  45. ↑ "TAKSU: the art of Bali". Charles Darwin University. Archived from the original on 15 June 2026. Retrieved 23 October 2026.
  46. ↑ Allen, Lynda (2022). "Archaeologists investigate history of global trade". Flinders University. Archived from the original on 16 January 2026. Retrieved 23 October 2026.
  47. ↑ Florek, Stan (17 October 2021). "Michael Abbott's generous donation 2021". Australian Museum. Archived from the original on 14 June 2026. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
  48. ↑ "Interwoven Journeys: The Michael Abbott collection of Asian art". Art Gallery of South Australia. Archived from the original on 16 June 2026. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
  49. ↑ "Centenary Medal entry for Mr Michael Lewis ABBOTT". Australian Honours Database. Canberra, Australia: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 1 January 2001. Retrieved 21 October 2026. For service to Australian society through the law, arts and education
  50. ↑ House of Assembly Hansard (Report). Parliament of South Australia. 23 March 2011. p. 3023. Archived from the original on 22 October 2026. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
  51. ↑ "Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) entry for Mr Michael Lewis ABBOTT". Australian Honours Database. Canberra, Australia: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 26 January 2011. Retrieved 21 October 2026. For distinguished service to the visual arts, particularly through leadership roles, to the development of arts education, to Australia-Asia relations, and to the law.
  52. ↑ "Australia Day Honours: AC, AO, AM". SBS News. Australian Associated Press. 26 January 2011. Archived from the original on 22 October 2026. Retrieved 23 October 2026.
  53. ↑ "Honorary Membership". Law Society of South Australia. Archived from the original on 22 October 2026. Retrieved 23 October 2026.
  54. ↑ "Honouring Michael Abbott AO KC: A Life of Excellence". The Bulletin. Law Society of South Australia. November 2025. Archived from the original on 23 October 2026. Retrieved 23 October 2026.
[edit]
  • Bennett, James; Artha, I Made Rai; Abbott, Michael, eds. (2026). Two Islands, One Thread: Lombok and Bali Textiles from the Michael Abbott Collections. Adelaide: Art Gallery of South Australia. ISBN 9781921668715.

Category:1942 births Category:Living people Category:Australian barristers Category:Australian King's Counsel Category:Australian art collectors Category:Australian philanthropists Category:University of Adelaide alumni Category:People educated at St Peter's College, Adelaide Category:Officers of the Order of Australia

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