Law Reform Committee

Inquiry into the Law of Contempt of Court - Lapsed

Introduction
Submissions
Hearings
Reports

Not Proceeded With

This inquiry was completed in the 57th parliament.

For more information on this inquiry, contact the Committees office:  

Phone: (03) 8682 2800

Email: cso@parliament.vic.gov.au

Referred by the Governor in Council on 22 September 2005.

The Governor in Council, under section 12 of the Parliamentary Committees Act 2003, requests that the Law Reform Committee of Parliament

Inquire into and report to Parliament on the Law of Contempt of Court with particular regard to the following:

  1. what are the aims of the law of Contempt of Court;
  2. what conduct amounts, under the existing law, to Contempt of Court;
  3. what are the features of the law of Contempt of Court which distinguish it from other laws;
  4. where such features exist, is there a clear justification for them;
  5. are the principles of the law of Contempt of Court sufficiently certain, or can criticism justifiably be made that they are inappropriately vague;
  6. are the procedures currently adopted in relation to allegations of Contempt of Court fair, and do they comply with internationally recognised standards of fairness for such proceedings;
  7. are the provisions of the law of Contempt of Court effective in achieving their ostensible aims.

This will be with a view to making recommendations on whether the existing law of Contempt of Court is adequate or whether any reform is required, and if so, what.

The Inquiry lapsed at the end of the 55th Parliament.