In the media
Strengthening the Victorian Criminal Justice
System
The Andrews Labor Government will strengthen
Victoria's criminal justice system with a Special Investigator,
Implementation Monitor and significant investment in the
Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission and the courts
(07 May 2021). More...
Auditor-general slams rollout of Victorian infringements
system while highlighting pressures on public servants
The Victorian Auditor-General's Office has released a
scathing report on the state justice department's new
infringements system, highlighting failures in governance and risk
management. VAGO's report has encouraged Victorian Public
Service leaders to facilitate conversations about public
servants' role in providing advice to the government (05 May
2021). More...
Australian government ban on overseas travel during
pandemic violates rights, Federal Court hears
The Commonwealth government's ban on citizens
travelling overseas infringes on the fundamental rights of
Australians, the Federal Court has heard. The Australian government
has used the Biosecurity Act to prevent citizens from travelling
overseas without an exemption (06 May 2021). More...
Victorian government bill would give principals the
power to ban abusive parents from school grounds
Schools will have the power to ban aggressive and violent
parents from entering school grounds under a Victorian government
bill introduced to parliament. The new laws will also target
parents who are threatening or abusive on social media (04 May
2021). More...
New Victorian Solicitor-General Appointed
The Victorian Government announced the appointment of
Rowena Orr QC as the next Solicitor-General, the state's most
senior legal adviser and advocate. Ms Orr will commence on 10 May
(04 May 2021). More...
Privacy warning on COVID health data
The Australian Information Commissioner and Privacy
Commissioner, Angelene Falk has signed a world-wide statement
confirming the importance of people's privacy being maintained
in the sharing of health data when people travel during the
COVID-19 pandemic (03 May 2021). More...
Telcos warned for failing to protect customers against
identity theft
Telstra, Medion Mobile and Optus have been issued formal
warnings after the ACMA found they failed to adequately verify
people's identities prior to transferring their mobile phone
numbers from other telcos. The ACMA found that in mid-2020, Telstra
breached identity verification rules on at least 52 occasions,
Medion Mobile on 53 occasions, and Optus on one occasion (21 May
2021). More...
Factsheets address abuse in the workplace
Safe Work Australia and eSafety have produced fact sheets
warning employers and employees of the dangers of online abuse in
the workplace, and outlining measures to prevent it. The fact
sheets define online abuse as "behaviour that uses technology
to threaten, intimidate, bully, harass or humiliate someone"
(20 May 2021). More...
ACSC lifts efforts to protect infrastructure
The Australian Cyber Security Centre
(ACSC) has announced its new Critical
Infrastructure Uplift Program aimed at raising the security levels
of critical infrastructure organisations. It noted the Government
was assisting in this effort through proposed amendments to the
Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018 (20 May 2021).
More...
Attorneys seek joint approach to violence laws
Attorney-General, Senator Michaelia Cash said the new
multi-jurisdictional initiative, aimed at ensuring victims and
survivors of sexual violence and coercive control, had similar
protections and legal avenues throughout Australia (20 May 2021).
More...
HRLC: Dozens of submissions made public after AGs refuse
to act on raising the age of criminal responsibility
In an unusual move, 48 organisations have publicly
released their submissions to the Council of Attorneys-General
working group on raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility
in Australia from 10 years old (19 May 2021). More...
Governments paying too much for infrastructure
Australian governments are paying too much for major
infrastructure contracts because of a lack of competition and undue
haste in pushing projects through, a report says. Transport
projects are very politicised and goverments put a lot of emphasis
on getting them started in their term of government so they can
claim it as their own (17 May 2021). More...
Legal Aid Vic: New investment to improve access to
justice
The government has announced $210 million in funding,
including investment to expand online court services, successful
case management programs and additional court staff and systems to
help meet demand across Victoria's courts and tribunals caused
by the COVID-19 backlog (13 May 2021). More...
In practice and courts
AAT Bulletin
The AAT Bulletin is a weekly publication containing a list
of recent AAT decisions and information relating to appeals against
AAT decisions.
Issue No. 9/2021, 3 May 2021
Issue No. 10/2021, 17 May 2021
AHRC: Independent Review into Commonwealth Parliamentary
Workplaces
The Commission will not be investigating nor making
findings about individual allegations of bullying, sexual
harassment or sexual assault as part of the Review. The
Commission will report on its findings and recommendations in a
report to be tabled in Parliament in November 2021. The Terms of
Reference outline the scope of the Review in more
detail. More...
OAIC: The importance of privacy by design in the sharing
of health data for domestic or international travel
requirements
The Global Privacy Assembly Executive Committee has
published a joint statement on the importance of privacy by design
in the sharing of health data for domestic or international travel
requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic (29 April
2021). More...
Victoria
Statutory declarations
Recent changes to the law enable statutory declarations to
be made using electronic signatures and for the witness to be
'present' by audio visual link (28 April 2021). More...
Consultations
New resources: How to work with vulnerable
witnesses
The Judicial College has released a suite of resources to
help you work with vulnerable witnesses in the courtroom (16 April
2021). More...
Inquiry into Victoria's Criminal Justice System -
Have your say
The Legislative Council Legal and Social Issues
Committee is accepting submissions to its Inquiry into
Victoria's criminal justice system. Submissions close
on 1 September 2021. More...
Inquiry into the Use of Cannabis in Victoria - Have your
say
The reporting date for this inquiry has been extended to 1
June 2021. Once the report is tabled in Parliament, an electronic
copy will be available for download from the Report page.
Inquiry into Management of Child Sex Offender
Information - Have your say
The reporting date for this inquiry has been extended to
30 August 2021. Once the report is tabled in Parliament, an
electronic copy will be available for download from the Report page.
Review of the Terrorism (Community Protection) Act
2003
Public consultation closes on 4 June 2021
Have your say on the effectiveness of the Terrorism (Community
Protection) Act 2003 and whether the safeguards and oversights are
sufficient. The review of the Terrorism (Community Protection) Act
2003 (the Act) is taking place to meet the Act's statutory
review requirement and address the Act's expiry on 1 December
2021. More...
NSW
Latest edition of the Court of Appeal's Decisions of
Interest bulletin
The Decisions of Interest bulletin is a regular publication
produced by the Court of Appeal, summarising appellate decisions
from Australia and internationally. Read the latest
bulletin here.
Published - articles, papers, reports
Investigation into the Department of Jobs, Precincts and
Regions' administration of the Business Support Fund
Victorian Ombudsman: 26 April 2021
A Victorian Ombudsman investigation has found that almost 12,000
businesses may be asked to reapply for grants after their
applications to the Business Support Fund were denied for minor
errors.
More...
Implementing a new infringements management system
VAGO: Tabled: 5 May 2021
Did the Department of Justice and Community Safety roll out its new
infringements system in an effective and cost-efficient way.
More...
The factsheet - How to deliver an effective
apology
Ombudsman: May 2021
The Ombudsman's Office advised entities to avoid apologies that
were inaccurate; misguided; generalised; avoidant; conditional; or
partial. More...
Investigation into how local councils respond to
ratepayers in financial hardship
Victorian Ombudsman: 17 May 2021
In recent years, the Victorian Ombudsman has heard concerns from
ratepayers, financial counsellors and community lawyers about the
way local councils treat people who cannot afford their council
rates. This investigation focused on council hardship relief for
homeowners (ratepayers who cannot pay rates. More...
Legislation
Victoria
Acts
Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation
Amendment (Arbitration) Act 2021 (Vic)
Act Number: 15/2021 Date of assent: 11 May 2021
Victorian legislation can be accessed here www.legislation.vic.gov.au
This publication does not deal with every important topic or change in law and is not intended to be relied upon as a substitute for legal or other advice that may be relevant to the reader's specific circumstances. If you have found this publication of interest and would like to know more or wish to obtain legal advice relevant to your circumstances please contact one of the named individuals listed.