Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-06-08 Daily Xml

Contents

CRIMINAL CASES REVIEW COMMISSION BILL

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on the question:

That this bill be now read a second time.

to which the Hon. S.G. Wade moved to leave out all words after 'That' and insert:

the bill be withdrawn and referred to the Legislative Review Committee for inquiry and report.

(Continued from 18 May 2011.)

The Hon. A. BRESSINGTON (17:50): I rise to conclude my summation to the Criminal Cases Review Commission Bill. Just to refresh the council and me, the Hon. Stephen Wade has moved that the bill be referred to the Legislative Review Committee for inquiry. Earlier today I moved a motion and sought to expand that inquiry's terms of reference to include other possible means for correcting wrongful convictions and also how a national commission could (and, indeed, whether it should) operate.

As I expressed last week and again earlier today, I understand the reluctance to commit the bill as it stands and given it is the first one in Australia to be introduced. For this reason, I am also more than willing to accept that this bill can be improved upon and, as such, I am supportive of its being referred for inquiry.

Together with the expanded terms of reference I moved earlier today, I am confident that the Legislative Review Committee will thoroughly inquire into the merits of a criminal cases review commission and ultimately conclude that, as an alternative to the petition process under section 369 of the Criminal Law Consolidation Act 1953, such a commission will be a significant advancement to our criminal justice system, and I look forward to reading that particular report.

Motion carried.

The Hon. A. BRESSINGTON (17:51): I move:

That this order of the day be discharged.

Motion carried; bill withdrawn.