Wednesday, 18 March 2020

Bills

Justice Legislation Amendment (Drug Court and Other Matters) Bill 2020

Introduction and first reading

Ms HENNESSY (Altona—Attorney-General, Minister for Workplace Safety) (09:33): I move:

That I introduce a bill for an act to amend the County Court Act 1958 to establish a Drug Court Division of the County Court and to make consequential and related amendments to certain other acts, to amend the Limitation of Actions Act 1958 in relation to previously barred causes of action relating to child abuse, to make miscellaneous amendments to the Charities Act 1978 and the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 1998 and to amend the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 in relation to chairpersons and alternate chairpersons of the Youth Parole Board and for other purposes.

Motion agreed to.

Mr SOUTHWICK (Caulfield) (09:34): I ask the Attorney-General for a brief explanation of the bill.

Ms HENNESSY: Certainly. This bill will essentially provide the legislative authority for the County Court to pilot a drug court for certain offences not involving serious violent sexual offences. That is one component of what that bill does. It also enables people to challenge previously executed deeds of release up to the date of the effect of the Ellis reforms, which I think is around 1 July 2018. It provides a delegation of power in respect of decisions that can be made under the Charities Act 1978 that currently resides in the office of the Attorney-General to other persons. It also provides the ability for VCAT to close hearings where there is a debate around cognitive capacity in respect of voluntary assisted dying decisions. In conclusion, it also provides an opportunity—

Mr Hodgett interjected.

Ms HENNESSY: Sorry, I am being told this is too long, and that point is well made, member for Croydon. It also makes some other provisions in respect of the appointment of the chairperson of the parole board.

Read first time.

Ordered to be read a second time tomorrow.