Greg Barns (Opinion 7/6) is plain wrong in many of his claims about the government’s proposed statutory minimum sentences for assaults involving gross violence.  The policy does not involve mandatory sentencing.  The government has made clear all along that there will be provision for exceptional circumstances, and we have asked the Sentencing Advisory Council to advise on [...]

(Letter submitted to The Age newpaper, which The Age did not publish.) Julian Burnside (Opinion, 6 June) is incorrect in claiming the Baillieu government plans to “abolish the ‘double jeopardy’ rule” in criminal proceedings.  Last week the Government confirmed its pre-election policy to make limited changes to double jeopardy laws.  The changes will allow a [...]

Attorney-General Robert Clark today announced the appointment of John Carmody to the County Court of Victoria. Congratulating him on his appointment, Mr Clark said Mr Carmody brought a wealth of experience to the bench of the County Court. “Mr Carmody is a barrister with 28 years of experience, appearing mostly in the Supreme Court and [...]

(Letter published by The Age newspaper on 31st May 2011) LETTER-WRITERS have claimed that the government’s amendments to the Equal Opportunity Act will give religious organisations the power to sack employees on the basis of their “lifestyle” and deny services to individuals on discriminatory grounds. Both claims are false. The government’s amendments simply continue the [...]

Attorney-General Robert Clark will seek the views of the community on the adequacy of sentencing in Victoria, in what could prove to be the biggest survey on sentencing ever undertaken in the state. The on-line survey, which will run for four weeks starting in July, will fulfil a key Coalition commitment to provide Victorians with [...]

A statewide trial of GPS tracking devices is underway to determine the best way to monitor offenders living in the community. Corrections Minister Andrew McIntosh said about 30 Corrections Victoria staff were currently taking part in the two-month trial, the results of which will help determine the GPS monitoring technology to be deployed in Victoria. [...]

Attorney-General Robert Clark today announced the appointment of Rodney Randall as an Associate Judge of the Supreme Court and Andrew McKenna to the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria. Mr Clark congratulated the new appointees and said both brought considerable and varied legal experience to their respective jurisdictions. Rodney Randall has practised as a barrister and solicitor [...]

On Friday Mr Jeremy Rapke QC tendered his resignation as Director of Public Prosecutions. I attach a copy of his letter of resignation and my subsequent reply. Mr Rapke has given long and distinguished service as a public prosecutor and in particular has been a highly effective and committed DPP. Since the receipt of the [...]

The Victorian Coalition Government has introduced legislation into Parliament to restore balance and common sense to Victoria’s equal opportunity laws. The legislation will deliver the Coalition’s election commitments to: remove unchecked coercive powers that were to have been given to the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission restore an independent chair of the Commission [...]