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 [...]
Survey results give Victorians a say on sentencing
5 December 2011 By
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 [...]
New appointment to Magistrates’ Court of Victoria
29 November 2011 By
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 [...]
New appointments to VCAT
29 November 2011 By
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 [...]
Commonwealth’s pay equity announcement leaves key questions unanswered
10 November 2011 By
The Victorian Coalition Government strongly supports the principle of gender pay equity. The Victorian Government is the only government to have set aside specific funding towards an outcome in the pay equity case currently before Fair Work Australia (FWA). In the 2011-12 Budget, the Victorian Government set aside $200 million over four years to fund [...]
Vic Govt welcomes Sentencing Advisory Council report on gross violence offences
10 November 2011 By
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 [...]
Coalition Government to introduce double jeopardy reforms
8 November 2011 By
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 [...]
Coalition Govt warns ABCC abolition will lead to more industrial unrest and increased costs
3 November 2011 By
Today in Federal Parliament, the Gillard Government tabled the Building and Construction industry Improvement (Transition to Fair Work) Bill 2011 which will abolish the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC). The Victorian Coalition Government is strongly opposed to this Bill. Far from improving the building and construction industry, abolishing the ABCC will give a green [...]
Victorian Coalition Government releases draft IR guidelines for comment
7 October 2011 By
The Victorian Coalition Government today released for public comment a draft of new industrial relations guidelines for Victorian Government building and construction work. Minister for Finance Robert Clark said the new guidelines will form part of the Victorian Code of Practice for the Building and Construction Industry and will replace the current industrial relations principles. [...]
New Chairperson for Victoria Legal Aid
27 September 2011 By
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 [...]
Director of Public Prosecutions appointed
22 September 2011 By
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 [...]
Coalition Government to reinstate VCAT major cases planning list
18 September 2011 By
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 [...]