ACT Introduces Bill to Improve Legislation Related to Justice and Safety

Thursday 29 March 2018 @ 11.38 a.m. | Crime | Legal Research

On 22 March 2018 the Justice and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Bill 2018 (‘the Bill’) was introduced in the ACT Parliament. The Bill is for the purpose of making amendments to various acts related to justice and community safety with the purpose of improving the operation of ACT legislation.

Main Amendments

The Bill makes the following key amendments:

  • Amendment of the Crimes Act 1900 (ACT) to correct inconsistencies relating to the powers of a guardian for an accused who is unfit to plead;
  • Amendment of the Crimes (Restorative Justice) Act 2004 (ACT) to extend the time frame within which the Restorative Justice Unit (RJU) can report on the progress of matters to entities that refer offences for restorative justice to the RJU;
  • Amendment of the Civil Law (Wrongs) Act 2002 (ACT) to allow the Minister to extend the period for which the professional standards scheme is in force by making a notifiable instrument before or after the period for the scheme ends;
  • Amendment of the Family Violence Act 2016 (ACT) to allow victims of family violence to apply to register Family Violence Orders for interstate recognition in the ACT without travelling interstate, which brings the amended Act in line with the national model. 

Attorney-General Gordon Ramsey noted in his second reading speech that the Bill was part of a tradition of improving the ACT’s legislation. He stated:

“This JACS bill continues the tradition of making technical and tangible amendments to improve the operation of the territory’s legislation. The amendments in this bill make adjustments to ACT legislation to ensure that there are minimal gaps in the application of interstate regulatory schemes in the ACT. The bill also makes improvements to our justice system by correcting inconsistencies, reducing the burden for victims of family violence and acknowledging the increasing demand for restorative justice services in the ACT. These amendments will help ensure that our justice system is accessible, transparent and timely for everyone.”

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Sources:

Justice and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Bill 2018 (ACT), second reading speech and explanatory memorandum, as published on TimeBase LawOne.

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