We encourage support for the position that a regulation is made, a date is fi xed and this injustice is corrected.
For more information on Queensland Law Society’s advocacy activity, email policyreform@qls.
com.au or phone (07) 3842 5930.
In addition to these appointments, vacancies in the positions of CEO of Corrections and Director of the Legal Service Commission are yet to be fi lled.
A number of recent appointments have the potential to change the way justice is administered and delivered in South Australia in the future.
In April this year Adam Kimber SC was appointed the Director of Public Prosecutions. Prior to this Adam held the position of Deputy Director for the last three years. At the time of his appointment he immediately raised the issue of appropriate funding for his offi ce. In light of the signifi cant budgetary constraints that face the Government, Adam has foreshadowed the possibility that his offi ce may not be able in the future to meet all of its expected commitments with the potential that prosecutors may be withdrawn from Magistrate court cases.
In June, the new South Australian Chief Justice, the Honourable Chris Kourakis was sworn in. His Honour immediately raised the need for an overhaul so that “every South Australian can pursue personal justice”. One approach that he suggested was that cases would be “streamed” into diff erent dispute resolution processes depending on the nature and needs of the case.
We also saw in June the announcement of a new Police Commissioner. Former Deputy Commissioner Gary Burns joined the police force in 1969 and has served in a variety of roles. At the time of his appointment he said that he wanted to maintain the publics trust in the police force by “looking at a high level of visibility in terms of policing, a closer engagement with the public when it comes to policing, listening to the public in their concerns with policing and problems that the police may be able to fi x”. He recently reinforced these comments with a commitment to ensuring a more visible police presence.
One of the diffi culties faced by each of these appointees is that the State Government is not in a position to fund any reforms. This is highlighted by the lack of progress in the establishment of a State based Administrative Appeals Tribunal. In August last year the Attorney-General announced that work would commence on the establishment of such a tribunal. A working group was formed and a report was delivered to the Government. No further progress has been made because Treasury are not prepared to commit any funding.
This is of course a common problem in this State with repeated calls by the former Chief Justice for an upgrade of the Supreme Court facilities ignored. Plans for a new adult prison have been scrapped and important programmes such as debtor counselling services have been defunded.
One reform that is progressing slowly is the establishment of an Independent Commission Against Corruption. The legislation is currently the subject of debate in the Parliament with one of the major sticking points being how the Commissioner should be appointed. The Bill proposed that the appointment be made by Executive Council however amendments have been tabled, the eff ect of which if passed, would require the appointment to be by both Houses of Parliament. This has opened up a wider debate on the whole appointment process for public offi ce.
On all of these fronts the Law Society has been active particularly on the issue of funding for the legal system and the cost of justice. We have spoken publically on his issue on a number of occasions and it is interesting to note that the editorial comment in our local newspaper is generally supportive.
47
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Ralph Bönig, President The Law Society of South Australia
MAR–MAY 2012
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64