Natalie
Blok

Natalie has been a lawyer for over 15 years, and a barrister for 7. Natalie has a background in administrative and employment law, focusing more recently on planning and environment law.

Natalie regularly advises and appears for government agencies (including water authorities and local councils) and private parties in planning appeals, regulatory & penalty proceedings, inquiries & inquests and merits & judicial review proceedings.  Her practice involves frequent appearance work in courts and tribunals, including VCAT, the Supreme Court, the Federal Court, the Federal Circuit Court, the AAT, Boards and Panels.  Before becoming a lawyer, Natalie worked in the disability sector.

Natalie is hard working, systematic and thorough with a personable approach.  She is known for attending to both detail and broader strategy. Natalie has an excellent understanding of government systems and administrative processes and is adept at making them easily understandable.  She is passionate about the law, and the environment (both natural and urban) and brings strong research, writing and problem-solving skills to her work.  Natalie is compassionate and sensitive to peoples’ needs.

In 2018, Natalie completed a Masters of Public and International Law at the University of Melbourne and is currently undertaking post graduate studies in Planning and Environment at RMIT.  Natalie is also a reporter for the Victorian Reports. 

Natalie regularly works with Senior Counsel, most recently with Daniel Star QC, Dominique Hogan-Doran SC, Kristen Walker QC (Solicitor-General), Malcolm Harding SC and Christopher Canavan QC.  She has also worked with Richard Niall QC (now of the Court of Appeal), Melinda Richards SC & Steve Moore QC (both now of the Supreme Court), Susan Brennan SC, Paul O’Grady QC, Guy Gilbert SC, Sarah Porritt and Emrys Nekvapil.

Natalie welcomes electronic briefs and direct access briefs.

A copy of her CV is available here.

Recent matters

The matters below illustrate some of Natalie’s recent court and tribunal experience.

Planning/Environment

Lamacchia v Darebin City Council [2020] VCAT 1242 (for the objector group, direct access, neighbourhood character)

Sheen v Mornington Peninsula Shire Council [2020] VCAT 436  (for the developer, instructed by Rigby Cooke)

Gray v Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change [2019] VSC 382  (for the CFA, instructed by inhouse solicitors)

Clarendon Works Pty Ltd v Port Phillip CC [2018] VCAT 956 (June 2018) (led by Christopher Canavan QC, for the developer, instructed by Rigby Cooke)

LCM Calvary Health Care Holdings Ltd v Glen Eira CC (Red Dot) [2018] VCAT 655 (Major Cases List, for the Resident Group, objector, direct access)

DCF 407 King Street Developing Entity v Melbourne CC [2017] VCAT 423 (led by Susan Brennan SC, for Haileybury College, instructed by Norton Rose)

Monsoon Bay Pty Ltd v Whitehorse CC [2017] VCAT 217 (led by Susan Brennan SC, for Monsoon Bay Pty Ltd, developer, instructed by Norton Rose)

Elfah Pty Ltd v Darebin CC [2017] VCAT 1036 (for council, direct access)

Parc Vue Projects Pty Ltd v Darebin CC [2017] VCAT 1602 (for council, direct access)

Neo v Wyndham CC [2017] VCAT 1679 (for the developer, direct access)

Mornington Peninsula SC v Coleus Investments Pty Ltd  [2017] VCAT 1241 (for the developer, direct access)

Talbot v Yarra CC [2017] VCAT 1515 (for the objector, direct access)

Nicholls v Queenscliffe BC [2017] VCAT 1573 (for the objector, direct access)

Environment East Gippsland Inc v Secretary to the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning and VicForests (Supreme Court, 2016, settled) (for the plaintiff, led by Richard Niall QC and Kristen Walker QC)

Administrative law/regulatory/penalty/inquiry

CEPU v Registered Organisations Commissioner (Full Court of the Federal Court) (for the Commissioner, led by Daniel Star QC) (reserved)

Registered Organisations Commissioner v CEPU [2020] FCA 96 (for the Commissioner, led by Dominique Hogan-Doran SC)

Ahmed v Minister for Immigration, Citizen and Multicultural Affairs [2020] FCA 557 (for the Applicant)

CZG v Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal [2019] VSC 203 (for the applicant, led by Malcolm Harding SC)

Azaria Family Day Care v Secretary, Department of Education and Training [2018] FCA 1640  (injunction/stay - for the applicant)

DHHS v [A] (2019) Suitability Panel (disciplinary - for the respondent)

DHHS v [B] (2019) Suitability Panel (disciplinary - for the respondent)

DHHS v [C] (2019) Suitability Panel (disciplinary - for the respondent)

Secretary to the Department of Health and Human Services v Children's Court of Victoria [2018] VSC 183 (for the Secretary)

Secretary to the Department of Health and Human Services v Children's Court of Victoria [2018] VSC 183 (for the Secretary)

DWN16 v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2018] FCCA 1911 (for the applicant)

Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v BJC16 [2017] FCAFC 114 (led by Guy Gilbert SC, for the respondent)

Inquest into the death of Neil Williamson (2016, for Victoria Police, instructed by Norton Rose)

MZZLO v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (No 2) [2016] FCA 356 (led by Guy Gilbert SC, for the applicant)

MZABP v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2015] FCA 1391 (for the applicant)

Inquest into the death of Jessica Wilson (2014)

Zhong v Royal Melbourne Hospital [2013] VSCA 220  (for the hospital, instructed by the VGSO)

Papers

“Applying the Apprehended Bias Test: A Nuance and Balanced Approach”: Seminar Paper prepared with Nicholas Green QC for Legalwise June 2018

“Facts and Evidence in Administrative Law: Does it Matter?” Seminar Paper prepared with Nicholas Green QC for Legalwise 2017

“It is (not) ok to offer ‘Black Babies” to Indigenous Employees in the Commonwealth Public Service” (2016) 23 AJ Admin L 119 (case note on Mata-Meyer v Commonwealth [2015] FCAFC 139 – race discrimination complaint)