South Australian Justice System

The Hon. F. PANGALLO (16:52): I move:

That this council—

1. Recognises the role the South Australian justice system plays in upholding law and order in this state by providing a system whereby those that break the law are suitably punished by legislation/laws set by this parliament;

2. Acknowledges the South Australian justice system has failings and injustices have, and continue, to occur;

3. Recognises the nature of our justice system enshrines a burden of proof on the prosecution of either beyond reasonable doubt or on the balance of probabilities that has the potential to result in miscarriages of justice;

4. Acknowledges there have been cases where these thresholds were thought to be satisfied, but later found to have been doubtful at best and unsound at worst; and

5. Calls on the establishment of an Independent Criminal Case Commissioner, to be appointed by the state government, where individuals who believe they have been victims of an injustice within the South Australian justice system can request their case be reviewed (or where a miscarriage of justice is demonstrated by a reasonable doubt of a sound verdict being delivered in the case).

I seek leave to conclude my remarks.

Leave granted; debate adjourned.