Justice Legislation Amendment (Trial by Judge Alone and Other Matters) Bill 2022
Introduction and first reading
Ms HUTCHINS (Sydenham—Minister for Crime Prevention, Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice, Minister for Victim Support) (12:05): I move:
That I introduce a bill for an act to amend the Criminal Procedure Act 2009 to provide temporary arrangements for trial by judge alone on an order made or applied for while a pandemic declaration is in force and to amend the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005, the Crimes (Mental Impairment and Unfitness to be Tried) Act 1997, the Evidence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1958, the Justice Legislation Amendment (Criminal Appeals) Act 2019 and the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 and for other purposes.
Motion agreed to.
Mr R SMITH (Warrandyte) (12:06): I ask the minister for a brief explanation of the bill.
Ms HUTCHINS (Sydenham—Minister for Crime Prevention, Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice, Minister for Victim Support) (12:06): The bill supports the government’s response to COVID-19 by ensuring the justice system continues to function safely and effectively during the ongoing pandemic. The details of the bill go to reintroducing judge-alone criminal trials and special hearings on a temporary basis, which will remove more criminal trials and special hearings so that they can proceed, but also the bill will be deferring the commencement date for the de novo summary appeals reform, which will allow courts and other justice stakeholders the time to implement these reforms and ensure they achieve their intended benefits. This also extends provisions under the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 to continue allowing attendance at a youth justice unit or reporting by audiovisual links or audiolink.
Read first time.
Ordered to be read second time tomorrow.