Gregory Buchhorn

Member
Spokesperson
Policy Committee
Media Contact

Gemma Cafarella

Vice President and Government Regulation and Equality Working Group Chair
Committee
Spokesperson
Policy Committee
Media Contact
Management Committee

Spent convictions scheme will transform the lives of many Victorians

The proposed spent convictions bill introduced by Reason Party leader Fiona Patten MP would transform the lives of many Victorians. If passed, the proposed scheme would bring Victoria in line with every other Australian state and territory, including Queensland, which has had a legislated scheme since 1986.

Ms Patten today introduced a bill into the Legislative Council that would automatically remove the convictions for minor offences if people have not reoffended for a period of time.

The proposed scheme will introduce the following changes:

Justice Legislation Amendment (Police and other matters) bill 2019

If enacted the Justice Legislation Amendment (Police and Other Matters) Bill 2019 (“the Bill”) would, amongst other things:

a. Create new powers in the Crimes Act 1958 (“the Crimes Act”) for police to take a DNA sample from certain suspects and offenders without a court order, including in some cases children; and 

b. Introduce new criminal offences and sanctions in the Crimes Act, Sentencing Act 1991 and Bail Act 1977 for acts that harm or threaten harm to police officers, protective services officers (“PSOs”) and police custody officers (“PCOs”).

STATEMENT REGARDING THE INTEGRITY OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION

Liberty Victoria believes fervently in the importance of impartial, independent legal advice and representation.

Liberty Victoria is an organisation made up predominately (though not solely) of legal practitioners. We believe that public confidence in the legal profession is integral to the proper administration of justice.

As the integrity of the legal profession in Victoria is under enormous scrutiny, we reiterate our individual and collective commitment to independent, ethical professional conduct and to the duties we each assumed upon admission to the legal profession.

Debbie Kilroy Honoured with the Liberty Victoria Voltaire Award 2019

This year Liberty Victoria honours Debbie Kilroy, the founder of Sisters Inside, with the Voltaire Human Rights Award.

The Voltaire Award honours a person or group for an outstanding contribution to or action on free speech, human rights or civil liberties, with particular emphasis on progressing freedom, respect, equality and dignity. It celebrates those who speak out, write, campaign, whistle-blow, take action or  stand against authoritarianism. Previous winners include Magda Szubanski, Gillian Triggs, Waleed Aly, David Marr, Peter Greste, Baher Mohamed and Mohamed Fahmy. 

Young Voltaire Awarded to Ngaga-Dji project

Liberty Victoria honours the Ngaga-Dji project ( Hear me!), a collaborative project of the Koorie Youth Council led by Anna Cerreto and Indi Clarke, with the Young Voltaire Award.

The Young Voltaire Award honours a person or group no older than 30 at the date of their nomination for an outstanding contribution to or action on free speech, human rights or civil liberties, with particular emphasis on progressing freedom, respect, equality and dignity. It celebrates those who speak out, write, campaign, whistle-blow, take action or stand against authoritarianism.

The Voltaire ‘Empty Chair’ Award for 2019 goes to Nasrin Sotoudeh.

Liberty Victoria honours Nasrin Sotoudeh with the Voltaire 'Empty Chair' Award 2019

Nasrin is an Iranian lawyer and human rights defender, renowned for her work representing abused women and children, dissidents, journalists, and people sentenced to death for offences committed as children.  Her courageous advocacy has brought her into contact with Iranian authorities on numerous occasions, and she has been harshly punished for her work as a human rights defender.

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