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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 11 Hansard (26 September) . . Page.. 3642 ..

WITNESS PROTECTION BILL 1996

This Bill will enable the ACT to formally participate in the National Witness Protection Program as established under the Commonwealth Witness Protection Act 1994 . The Australian Federal Police's National Witness Protection Program provides protection and assistance to any Crown witness, and related person, who may be under threat, or in danger, of physical harm.

Threat, intimidation and actual violence have long been the tools of trade when attempting to obtain compliance and subservience in the criminal community. This has particularly been the case with the advent of organised crime into Australian society and the resultant increased responsiveness by law enforcement agencies to stem their sphere of influence. Often, the evidence of informants is pivotal to the success of investigations and subsequent prosecutions.

As a direct result of their cooperation with law enforcement agencies, witnesses potentially place themselves and their families at risk of injury or even death. Where the administration of the criminal justice system, to be effective, relies on the evidence of witnesses who, as a result of providing that evidence, may be the subject of violent retribution, then law enforcement agencies are obliged to provide an adequate level of protection.

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