New AHRC President; New Proposed Privacy Commissioner and Youth Koori Court in NSW

Monday 26 June 2017 @ 12.24 p.m. | Judiciary, Legal Profession & Procedure | Legal Research

Om 20 June 2017, there was an announcement by the Federal Attorney-General of the appointment of Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM as the next President of the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) commencing her seven-year term on 30 July 2017. Additionally, the NSW Attorney-General has announced a proposed Privacy Commissioner appointment and additional funding for a Youth Koori Court in NSW.

New AHRC President Appointment

According to the Media Release from the Federal Attorney-General, Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM has been appointed as the next President of the AHRC. Professor Croucher is currently the President of the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC). She was first appointed a full-time Commissioner of the ALRC by the Howard Government in 2007 and was made President in 2009. Professor Croucher was reappointed President in 2014 and subsequently in 2015 for a further three year term.

According to the ABC News, Shadow attorney-general Mark Dreyfus said Professor Croucher has done an outstanding job heading the Law Reform Commission and "would do a fine job as AHRC president":

"Under her leadership, the commission has completed landmark reports on elder abuse, native title, and family violence...It is a credit to the commission that it will again be led by an extremely accomplished and competent female leader, following the conclusion of Professor Gillian Triggs' term as president."

Similarly, the Law Council of Australia has also welcomed the appointment in Lawyers' Weekly, with LCA president Fiona McLeod SC stating,

"Professor Croucher has had a brilliant career in the law, and her long and successful stint as president of the Australian Law Reform Commission has enhanced the standing of the institution...She enjoys an outstanding reputation among her peers for her clear-sighted, pragmatic and strategic approach to law reform."

According to the AHRC Media Release, Professor Croucher will begin her seven-year term on 30 July 2017.

Proposed Appointment of NSW Privacy Commissioner

According to a Media Release from NSW Attorney-General Mark Speakman on 21 June 2017, Samantha Gavel has been proposed as the new NSW Privacy Commissioner after an independent recruitment process led by the NSW Public Service Commissioner:

“Ms Gavel is a leader in privacy protection who is currently the National Health Practitioner Ombudsman and Privacy Commissioner, and was previously the Private Health Insurance Ombudsman for six years...She has extensive experience in raising awareness about privacy rights, investigating complaints, resolving disputes and helping agencies meet their obligations to protect the personal information of individuals.”

The Information and Privacy Commission NSW is one-stop shop for independent assistance on privacy issues and accessing NSW Government documents, and, if appointed, Ms Gavel will begin her term as soon as possible.

Funding Boost for Youth Koori Court in NSW

According to a Media Release from NSW Attorney-General Mark Speakman on 16 June 2017, a dedicated Youth Koori court for young Aboriginal offenders in Western Sydney will receive greater support, with the NSW Government now funding an additional full time caseworker:

"Conducted in a relatively informal setting, the Youth Koori Court increases Aboriginal involvement in the delivery of justice, ensuring outcomes are culturally relevant and have more impact on the offender...By the age of 23 more than three quarters of NSW Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders have had contact with the criminal justice system. The Youth Koori Court is working hard to address this statistic by developing practical and effective plans to put offenders on the right path.”

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