Major Criminal Law Overhaul to Address Court Delays
Source: Victoria. Attorney General. Media Release
"A major overhaul of criminal procedure in Victoria will help speed up court processes and ensure the criminal justice system continues to be more modern and efficient. Deputy Premier and Attorney-General Rob Hulls introduced the Criminal Procedure Bill 2008 into Parliament, the first of three Bills to implement the Brumby Government’s commitment to review the Crimes Act 1958. “Fifty years and over 1500 amendments later, the Crimes Act is no longer logical or coherent,” Mr Hulls said. “Many of the provisions are confusing to follow, and in some cases use outdated, sexist or inappropriately gender specific language and expressions.“The Brumby Government is taking action to make our communities safer and this legislation will improve the efficiency of the criminal justice system and address court delays. “The Criminal Procedure Bill will consolidate criminal procedure from three separate Acts governing the Magistrates’, County and Supreme Courts into one Bill, modernise language and harmonise laws to be consistent across court jurisdictions."