The Commission has a reference from the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, the Honourable F.J. Walker, Q.C., M.P., to inquire into and review the law relating to criminal procedure, the conduct of criminal proceedings, and matters incidental thereto. The terms of reference are set out in full in paragraph 1.1 of the Paper.
The purpose of this Paper is to provide background information for the guidance of organisations and people who may wish to make submissions to us. In parts of the Paper, we raise policy questions which are designed to stimulate discussion and to assist organisations and people in framing their views. In other parts of the Paper, we make tentative suggestions for change. Our questions and suggestions are not intended to restrict the range of submissions which may be made to us. Our commentators are invited to raise other questions and to make other suggestions. Some commentators may wish to address themselves to the whole range of issues and others to only some issues.
Pursuant to section 12A(1) of the Law Reform Commission Act, 1967, the Chairman of the Commission has constituted a Division of the Commission for the purpose of this reference. The members of the Division are:
Chairman
Professor Ronald Sackville
Deputy Chairman
Full-time Commissioners
Mr. Denis Gressier
Mr. J.R.T. Wood, Q.C.
Part-time Commissioners
The Hon Mr. Justice Adrian Roden
Mr. I.McC. Barker, Q.C.
Dr. G.D. Woods, Q.C., Director of the Criminal Law Review Division of the Department of the Attorney General and of Justice, and Mr. W.J. Robinson, Deputy Under Secretary of the same Department, are Principal Consultants to the Commission for the purposes of this reference.
At various stages of our work on the reference, we shall seek the assistance of other Consultants. In the course of preparing this Paper, we have had the assistance, as consultants, of Mr. C.R. Briese, Chairman of the Bench of Stipendiary Magistrates, and his deputies, Mr. KS. Anderson, S.M., and Mr. B.P, Brown, S.M., and also Senior Inspector E.F. Bunt, of the Police Prosecution Branch, Mr John Basten, Barrister, and Mr. Russell Hogg, Lecturer in law, have also provided us with valuable assistance.
The Commission has formed no final view on any issue raised in the Paper. The tentative views expressed are those of the members of the Division and are not necessarily those of any of the Commission’s consultants.
Ms. Philippa McDonald and Mr. Paul Garde have made substantial contributions to the preparation of the Paper as members of the Commission’s research staff.
The Commission's special thanks are extended to the Hon. Mr. Justice Roden. His constructively critical and detailed comments on drafts of this Paper prepared within the Commission have been most welcome and beneficial.
The Commission invites submissions on the issues raised in this Paper or on any aspect of the reference. All inquiries and comments should be directed to the Secretary. Submissions should reach us by 1 March 1983.
An outline of this Paper is available from the Secretary of the Commission. Requests for copies, and correspondence concerning the reference, should be addressed to:
Mr. Bruce Buchanan
Secretary
New South Wales Law Reform Commission
Box 6, G.P.O.
SYDNEY, N.S.W. 2001.
Telephone: 238 7213
[Current contact details for the Law Reform Commission]
