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;
- principles of criminal responsibility;
- 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 including changes to evidence laws;
- powers of Federal law enforcement and intelligence gathering agencies; and
- any other related matter.
Members
- Micheal Stanton (Co-Chair) – Victorian Bar
- Richard Wilson SC (Co-Chair) – New South Wales Bar Association
- Ambrith Abayasekara – Law Society Northern Territory
- Jarrod Behan – Law Institute of Victoria
- Phillip Boulten SC – New South Wales Bar Association
- David Davidson – The Law Society of Western Australia
- David Edwardson KC – South Australian Bar Association
- Tim Game SC – New South Wales Bar Association
- David Grace KC – Victorian Bar
- Charlene Harris – Law Society of the ACT
- Paul Holdenson KC – The Victorian Bar
- Deborah Kilroy AO – Queensland Law Society
- Michael Kukulies-Smith – Law Society of the ACT
- Frances McCracken – Law Society of Tasmania
- Rebecca McMahon – New South Wales Bar Association
- Philippa Morgan – Law Society of Tasmania
- Arthur Moses SC – New South Wales Bar Association
- Tom Percy KC – The Law Society of Western Australia
- John Purnell SC – ACT Bar Association
- Emma Shaw – Law Society of South Australia
- Michael Stanton SC – The Victoria Bar
- Bret Walker SC – New South Wales Bar Association
- Kim Baumeler – The Law Society of Tasmania (Alternate member)
Contact
Thomas Andrews
T. 02 6246 3729
E. Thomas.Andrews@lawcouncil.au
Last Updated on 20/10/2025
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