National Criminal Law Committee
The National Criminal Law Committee considers matters referred to it by the Executive and the Secretariat of the Law Council. The primary purpose of the Committee is to advise the Law Council on criminal and national security law matters of interest to the legal profession.
The Committee responds to proposed reforms to criminal law and procedure and national security at the federal level, proposals to harmonise criminal law across jurisdictions and also assists in developing Law Council policy on criminal and national security law matters of national interest.
Issues
The National Criminal Law Committee maintains a watching brief on:
- proposals for new Commonwealth criminal offences particularly where they involve an extension of criminal liability and/or strict liability;
- the content and operation of anti-terrorism laws;
- sentencing issues, including mandatory sentencing;
- the dissemination of information to the legal profession on criminal law matters of national interest;
- proposed reforms to criminal procedure;
- harmonisation of criminal laws across jurisdictions;
- powers of Federal law enforcement and intelligence gathering agencies; and
- any other related matter.
Submissions
The National Criminal Law Committee is also involved in the preparation of submissions to the Commonwealth Government and Commonwealth departments. These submissions have covered issues such as:
- Serious and organised crime;
- Mandatory sentencing;
- Principles of criminal responsibility;
- Anti-terrorism legislation;
- Border security;
- Secrecy provisions;
- Extradition and mutual assistance;
- Death penalty; and
- Changes to evidence laws.
Members
- Dr David Neal SC (Co-Chair) - The Victorian Bar
- Mr Richard Wilson SC (Co-Chair) - New South Wales Bar Association
- Mr Tim Game SC - New South Wales Bar Association
- Mr David Grace KC - Victorian Bar
- Mr Arthur Moses SC - New South Wales Bar Association
- Mr John Purnell SC - ACT Bar Association
- Mr Bret Walker SC - New South Wales Bar Association
- Mr Phillip Boulten SC - New South Wales Bar Association
- Mr Tom Percy KC - The Law Society of Western Australia
- Mr David Davidson - The Law Society of Western Australia
- Mr David Edwardson KC - South Australian Bar Association
- Mr Paul Holdenson KC - The Victorian Bar
- Ms Deborah Kilroy AO - Queensland Law Society
- Ms Nicole Spicer - Law Institute of Victoria
- Mr Michael Kukulies-Smith - Law Society of the ACT
- Mr Michael Stanton - The Victoria Bar
- Ms Philippa Morgan - Law Society of Tasmania
- Ms Charlene Harris - Law Society of the ACT
- Ms Frances McCracken - Law Society of Tasmania
- Ms Rebecca McMahon - New South Wales Bar Association
- Ms Kim Baumeler - The Law Society of Tasmania, Alternate
Contact
Mr Shounok Chatterjee
T. 02 6246 3703
E. shounok.chatterjee@lawcouncil.au
Last Updated on 09/07/2024
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