Attorney-General Robert Clark today announced that the Victorian Coalition Government has introduced legislation to amend the Road Safety Act to prevent people from consuming alcohol while driving a motor vehicle. “We recognised this problem, committed to fixing it and moved swiftly to ensure that this anomaly is dealt with ahead of the Christmas holiday period,” [...]

Victoria’s Law Handbook Online will continue to provide free legal information to the Victorian community following a Victorian Coalition Government funding injection of $110,000, Attorney-General Robert Clark announced today. Mr Clark said the funding would be directed towards the development and updating of legal information to be included in the Law Handbook Online. “This initiative [...]

The Victorian Coalition Government today published the results of its MyViews Sentencing Survey, in which more than 18,500 Victorians took part. Attorney-General Robert Clark said the Sentencing Survey received a strong response from Victorians who welcomed the opportunity to have their say on sentencing. “The MyViews Sentencing Survey is another example of the Victorian Coalition [...]

Attorney-General Robert Clark today announced the appointment of Mr Philip Ginnane to the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria. Mr Clark said Mr Ginnane was a respected barrister who has practised in both civil and criminal law. “His extensive advocacy experience in the areas of commercial, insolvency and administrative and employment law makes Mr Ginnane a valuable [...]

Attorney-General Robert Clark today announced the appointment of three new full time members to VCAT and the promotion of three existing members. Mr Ian Lulham has been promoted to the position of Deputy President, Mr Jonathan Smithers has been appointed as a full time senior member, and Mr Ian Proctor and Ms Genevieve Nihill have [...]

The Victorian Coalition Government today welcomed the Sentencing Advisory Council’s (SAC) report on the introduction of statutory minimum sentences for gross violence offences. In April this year, the Coalition Government requested the SAC’s advice on a number of matters, including various aspects of the implementation of the Coalition’s election commitment to introduce a four-year minimum [...]

The Victorian Coalition Government will today introduce legislation into the Victorian Parliament to reform the law of double jeopardy. The reforms will mean that a new trial can be ordered where there is compelling new evidence that a person previously acquitted of a serious crime was in fact guilty. The new law will apply in [...]

Attorney-General Robert Clark today announced the appointment of Mr Andrew Guy as the new Chairperson of Victoria Legal Aid (VLA). Mr Clark said Mr Guy’s strong legal and corporate governance background made him highly qualified to lead the VLA Board. “Mr Guy brings more than 40 years of legal and management experience to the role [...]

Attorney-General Robert Clark today announced the appointment of John Champion SC as Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). “Mr Champion is a person held in the highest regard across the legal profession,” Mr Clark said. “He brings to the position of DPP more than 33 years of experience as a barrister. He has appeared in a [...]

Attorney-General Robert Clark today announced the Victorian Coalition Government will reinstate a major cases planning list at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT). Funding provided by the previous government for a Major Cases List pilot program ceased earlier this year and the pilot program closed to new cases on 18 March. “Assessment of the [...]