National Criminal Law Liaison Committee
The National Criminal Law Liaison 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 law matters of national interest to the legal profession.
The Committee responds to proposed reforms to criminal law and procedure at the federal level, proposals to harmonise criminal law across jurisdictions and also assists in developing Law Council policy on criminal law matters of national interest.
Issues
The National Criminal Law Liaison 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.
Recent submissions
The National Criminal Law Liaison Committee is also involved in the preparation of submissions to the Commonwealth Government and Commonwealth departments. These submissions have covered issues such as:
- Jury directions;
- Serious and organised crime;
- Criminal jurisdiction of the Federal Court;
- Anti-terrorism legislation; and
- Changes to evidence laws.
Members
- Mr Tim Game SC (Co-Chair) - New South Wales Bar Association
- Mr David Grace QC (Co-Chair) - The Victorian Bar
- Mr John Purnell SC - ACT Bar Association
- Mr George Mancini - The Law Society of South Australia
- Mr Bret Walker SC - New South Wales Bar Association
- Mr Philip Boulten SC - New South Wales Bar Association
- Mr Stephen Odgers SC - New South Wales Bar Association
- Mr Tom Percy QC - The Law Society of Western Australia
- Mr Hylton Quail - The Law Society of Western Australia
- Dr David Neal SC - The Victorian Bar
- Ms Kim Baumeler - The Law Society of Tasmania
- Mr David Edwardson QC - SA Bar Association
- Mr Paul Holdenson QC - The Victorian Bar
- Ms Deborah Kilroy AO - Queensland Law Society
- Mr James Dowsley - Law Institute of Victoria
- Mr Michael Kukulies-Smith - Law Society of the ACT
- Mr Rocky Perrotta - The Law Society of South Australia
- Ms Pauline Wright - The Law Society of New South Wales
- Mr Jim Jolliffe - The Law Society of New South Wales
- Mr Garth Stevens -The Law Society of Tasmania, Alternate
- Mr Craig Mackie - The Law Society of Tasmania, Alternate
Contact
For further information on the work of the National Criminal Law Committee, contact:
