Page 4273 - Week 13 - Thursday, 25 November 1993

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .

---

THIS BILL GIVES STATUTORY RECOGNITION TO THE A.C.T. COMMUNITY LAW REFORM COMMITTEE. THIS COMMITTEE HAS OPERATED SINCE 1990 AS A MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE ADVISING ON LAW REFORM ISSUES. IN THIS TIME, IT-HAS BEEN OPERATING ACCORDING TO A NON-STATUTORY CONSTITUTION. THIS BILL NOW GIVES THE COMMITTEES REVISED CONSTITUTION LEGISLATIVE FORM, PROVIDING A FIRM BASIS FOR ITS FORM AND FUNCTIONS.

THIS BILL ALSO SERVES TO PROTECT COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND WITNESSES AGAINST THE POSSIBILITY OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS CONCERNING COMMITTEE ACTIVITIES DONE IN GOOD FAITH.

IT ALSO PROVIDES THAT INFORMATION WHICH IS GIVEN TO THE COMMITTEE IN CONFIDENCE WILL REMAIN SECRET. MEMBERS AND STAFF OF THE COMMITTEE WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO DISCLOSE CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION OUTSIDE THE COMMITTEE AND ITS STAFF. A PENALTY OF $5000 OR 6 MONTHS IMPRISONMENT OR BOTH IS PROVIDED IF THIS PROVISION IS BREACHED.

THIS PROVISION IS AN IMPORTANT ONE TO FOSTER CONFIDENCE IN THOSE WHO WISH TO MAKE SUBMISSIONS TO THE COMMITTEE BUT DO NOT WANT THOSE SUBMISSIONS TO BE MADE PUBLIC. IT SHOULD BE NOTED IN THIS REGARD THAT THE COMMITTEE CONSIDERS MANY CONTROVERSIAL AND SOMETIMES DISTRESSING MATTERS SUCH AS SEXUAL ASSAULT AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

---

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .