Released 24/07/2020
The ACT Government this week passed significant justice reforms which will result in better outcomes for victims of child sexual abuse, improve the ability of law enforcement to crack down on organised crime and progress the coronial process to better support grieving families.
Royal Commission Criminal Justice Legislation Amendment Bill 2020
"The abuse of a child is a terrible crime perpetrated against the most vulnerable in our community. It is a crime which cannot be tolerated," Attorney-General Gordon Ramsay said.
"This legislation reflects the Government's ongoing and steadfast commitment to ensuring improving access to justice for victims of child sexual abuse and addresses persistent child sexual abuse offences.
"The laws governing tendency and coincidence evidence provisions have also been amended, and that disclosures of sexual abuse in the setting of the religious confessional are not exempt from being used as evidence in court."
Confiscation of Criminal Assets (Unexplained Wealth) Amendment Act 2020
"The ACT is not a jurisdiction where organised crime can flourish undisturbed," Mr Ramsay said.
"As a Government, we take the responsibility to protect our community seriously and will continue to ensure that law-abiding citizens are safe from all kinds of criminal behaviour.
"These new laws give our police and prosecutors the tools they need to take the profit motive out of crime," he said.
Under the previous civil forfeiture scheme, a court needed to be satisfied that the person had committed a serious offence before assets could be seized by authorities.
The new laws allow the ACT Director of Public Prosecution to seek an order to freeze assets where it is suspected the whole or any part of the person's wealth was derived from serious criminal activity because their lawfully acquired wealth is less than their total wealth.
Coroners Amendment Bill 2020
Attorney-General Gordon Ramsay said the loss of a loved one is a devastating experience and our coronial system must be able to support families and friends through that experience.
"Though the aim in a coronial process is to discover the cause of a death, it is critical that we engage with the deceased's loved ones with compassion and understanding throughout this process," Attorney-General Ramsay said.
"The reforms help set a principled approach to guide the practice of the Court as a whole and will ensure coronial practices are carried out with respect for culture, and with recognition that families and friends going through a coronial inquest are active participants who have a real voice," he said.
He also thanked those individuals who had been personally involved in coronial processes in the past and made significant contributions to the law reform process and outlined that these changes were only part of the journey of restorative reforms.
Attorney-General Ramsay also announced that the new Family Liaison Officer role commenced in the Coroners Court, which will help to improve the experience of those navigating the coronial system.
- Statement ends -
Gordon Ramsay, MLA | Media Releases