Activities during June 2003
Discussion of possible witnesses.
Organisation of Rural Hearings.
Preparation of databases.
EXAMINING THE ROLES OF COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEES OF METROPOLITAN HEALTH SERVICES
Referred by Order in Council on 6 May 2003
To inquire into, consider and report to Parliament on the roles of Community Advisory Committees of Metropolitan Health Services. In particular the Committee is required to:
1 Review establishment, composition and objectives of these Committees in all Metropolitan Health Services.
2. Report on work programs and achievement of all Committees.
3. Make recommendations about the future directions of the Committees with regard to the membership, communications and community interactions with Metropolitan Services.
The Committee is required to report to Parliament by 31 December 2003.
Activities during June 2003
Discussion of possible witnesses.
Organisation of visit to Metropolitan Hospitals.
Preparation of databases.
IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF URBAN DESIGN AND THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC ART IN VICTORIA
Referred by Order in Council 6 May 2003
To inquire into, consider, and make recommendations on options to improve the quality of urban design and increase opportunities for public art in development in Victoria and, in particular to report on:-
1. To identify mechanisms and good practice for the delivery of urban art outcomes, both by the public and private sectors, either as integral parts of development or as contributions to art works in the public realm.
2. The adequacy of existing programs and funding mechanisms for the delivery and support or urban design and public art, and make recommendations for cost-effective improvements in these programs and mechanisms.
3. Recommendations for mechanisms to increase funding for urban design and public art, and in particular ways to forge partnerships between the public and private sectors for that purpose.
4. Recommendations to improve community understanding of, access to and active participation in urban design and public art.
5. The need for change to legislation or statutory requirements to implement any recommendations made as a result of the Inquiry.
In conducting the Inquiry, the Committee is requested to seek information from relevant organisations in the arts, design and urban planning sectors, the general community, Local Government and other Government agencies. In particular, the Committee is requested to examine delivery and funding mechanisms for urban design and public art in other Australian States and Territories, and comparable mechanisms internationally.
The Committee is required to report to Parliament by 5 December 2003.
Activity during June 2003
Inquiry has not yet commenced.
CURRENT FORMS OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT BY VICTORIAN COUNCILS
Referred by Order in Council 6 May 2003
Inquire into, consider and report to the Parliament on current forms of community engagement by Victorian Councils and ways to enhance and promote greater community engagement within existing councils as part of their governance arrangements. Activities during June 2003
Discussion of possible witnesses.
Organisation of visit to Metropolitan Hospitals.
Preparation of databases.
LAW REFORM COMMITTEE
Level 8, 35 Spring Street, Melbourne 3000
Telephone: (03) 9651 3644 Facsimile: (03) 9651 3674
Email: VPLRC@parliament.vic.gov.au
Website: http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/lawreform
Members:
(Council) Ms D. G. Hadden, the Hons A Brideson, and R.A. Dalla-Riva.
(Assembly) Ms D.A. Beard, Mr R. Hudson. Mr A. G. Lupton and
Mr N. J. Maughan.
Chairman: Mr R. Hudson, MP
Executive Officer: Ms M. L. Mason
INQUIRY INTO FORENSIC SAMPLING AND THE USE OF DNA DATABASES IN CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS
Referred by Order in Council in the Government Gazette of 17 April 2003.
To inquire into, consider and report on:
The collection, use and effectiveness of forensic sampling and the use of DNA databases in criminal investigations, with particular emphasis on identifying areas and procedures which would more effectively utilise forensic sampling and improve investigation and detection of crime.
The Terms of Reference for this inquiry exactly replicate those of the reference given to the Committee in the 54th Parliament and which lapsed when Parliament was prorogued in November 2002.
Activities during June 2003
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Public hearing held on 2 June 2003 -
Witness
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Affiliation
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Assistant Commissioner Noel Ashby
Acting Commander I Thomas
Superintendent Paul Evans
Detective Inspector D. Cowlishaw
Acting Inspector A. O’Connor
Mr John Wallace
Prof John Scheffer
Dr J. Gans
Mr N. McNamara
Mr V. Stojcevski
Mr J. McLoughlin
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Victoria Police.
Acting Director
Assistant Director, Biology
Victoria Forensic Science Centre
Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law,
Melbourne University.
Crime Victims Support Association.
Senior Policy and Research Officer
Criminal Lawyer
Victoria Legal Aid.
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Committee meeting of 23 June 2003 included meeting with Professor Mark Findlay, author of a review of forensic sampling provisions in NSW.
Summary of work completed during 54th Parliament
Meetings during an overseas study tour January/February 2002
San Francisco Police Department
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Ms Cydne Holt
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Supervisor, Forensic Biology Section
Forensic Services Division
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California Department of Justice
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Mr Harry Dorfman
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Assistant District Attorney
Attorney-General’s Office
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Federal Bureau of Investigations
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Mr John Behun
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Combined DNA Index System (CODIS)
Forensic Science Systems Unit
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New York City Police Department
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Robert Messner
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Assistant Commissioner, Legal Bureau
Civil Enforcement Unit
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Sergeant Martin Gleeson
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Managing Attorney
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Mr Peter Ostapenko
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Associate Staff Analyst,
Office of Management Analysis and Planning
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Mr Thomas Prasso
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Director, License Division
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Thomas Doepfner
|
Assistant Commissioner, Legal Bureau
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George Grasso
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Deputy Commissioner, Legal Matters
|
Detective Edward Wallace
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Senior Crime Scene Analyst, Forensic Investigation Division
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Office of Forensic Services, New York State Division of Criminal Justice
|
Mr John Hicks
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Director, Office of Forensic and Victim Services,
Division of Criminal Justice Services
|
Ms Julie Pasquini
|
DNA Collection Coordinator
|
Dr Bob Shaler
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Director, Forensic Biology
NYC Office of the Chief Medical Examiner
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UK Forensic Science Service
|
Mr Mark Lowther
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Manager, Corporate Markets, Market Sector Development
|
Mr Chris Hadkiss
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DNA Manager, Forensic Science Services
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Mr Denesh Kara
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Interpol
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Mr Werner Schuller
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Operational Police Forensic Support,
Manager Interpol DNA Projects
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Discussion Paper distributed with initial contact letter to stakeholders requesting submissions. Also available on Committee website.
Commissioning of three expert papers, which have been placed on Committee website:
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Legal and ethical issues – prepared by Barrister Dr Ian Freckelton
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Practical and technical issues – prepared by the Victorian Forensic Science Centre
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Forensic Procedures: Potential Impacts on Victoria’s Indigenous Community – prepared by Dr Greg Gardner, Parliamentary Library
Members of the Committee and staff attended Law Asia Seminar on DNA related legal issues.
Public hearings were held on 22 and 23 July 2002.
Witness
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Affiliation
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Commander P. Hornbuckle
Acting Inspector A. O’Connor
Detective Inspector D. Cowlishaw
Dr J. Gans
Mr D. Hoenig
Ms L. Weathered
Ms K. Edwards
Mr P. Chadwick
Acting Prof. D. Wells
Ms A. Radonik
Ms S. Nicholson
Mr R. Punshon SC
Mr R. Nankivell
Mr D. Faram
Ms A. Palk
Mr D. Laschko;
Mr J. Scheffer
Dr P. Stringer,
Mr N. McNamara
Mr N. Halvagas
Mr J. Magill
Ms M. Parsell
Mr P. Coghlan QC
Ms R. Sharp
Mr V. Stojcevski
Mr J. McLoughlin
Father P. Norden
Ms E. Hunt
Mr D. Meagher
Mr G. Connellan
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Corporate Policy;
Legislative Review and Proposals
DNA Implementation Unit,
Victoria Police.
Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law,
Melbourne University.
Executive Officer,
New South Wales Innocence Panel, and Senior Policy Analyst,
New South Wales Ministry for Police.
Director,
Griffith University Innocence Project.
Co ordinator, Innocence Project,
University of Technology Sydney.
Privacy Commissioner.
Head, Division of Clinical Medicine,
Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine.
Case Worker
Director
Youth Law.
Chair
Member
Criminal Bar Association of Victoria.
President
Assistant
Law Institute of Victoria
Biology Division,
Victoria Forensic Science Centre.
Crime Victims Support Association.
Private Citizen.
Manager,
Forensic Science Laboratory Accreditation Program,
National Association of Testing Authorities.
Director of Public Prosecutions
Solicitor,
Office of Public Prosecutions.
Victoria Legal Aid.
Director,
Jesuit Social Services.
Co-Executive Director,
Public Interest Law Clearing House.
Lecturer in Law,
Deakin University.
Vice President,
Victorian Council for Civil Liberties (Liberty Victoria).
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Committee and staff visited the Victorian Forensic Science Centre in August 2002 to inspect the laboratory and be briefed on the Centre’s activities.
Committee members travelled to Brisbane, Sydney and Adelaide for meetings during September 2002.
Brisbane 19 September 2002
Queensland Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Paul Rutledge, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions. Australian Council for Civil Liberties, Mr Terry O’Gorman, President. Queensland Police Service, Chief Superintendent David Melville, Senior Sergeant, Gary Pettiford, Officer in Charge, DNA Unit, Sergeant Michael Briody, Senior Sergeant Michael Ede. -
Queensland Department of Health Scientific Services Laboratory, Associate Professor Leo Freeney, Senior Scientist.
Sydney 20 September 2002
NSW Police Service, Dr Peter Gunn, Manager, Scientific Support, Forensic Services Group, Mr Wayne Tosh, Manager, Procedures Implementation Team DNA, Ms Natalie Dugandzic, Solicitor, Court and Legal Services Unit. NSW Public Defenders’ Office, Mr Peter Zahra, Senior Public Defender, Mr Andrew Haesler, Public Defender, Member of the ALRC Working Group on Law Enforcement and Evidence for the Protection of Human Genetic Information Inquiry. -
NSW Legislative Council Standing Committee on Law and Justice, Hon Ron Dyer, Chairman, Hon John Ryan, Deputy Chair.
NSW Ombudsman, Mr Stephen Kinmond, Assistant Ombudsman (Police).
Adelaide 25 September 2002 South Australia Police, Inspector England, Head DNA Project Team. Forensic Science Centre, Dr Hilton Kobus, Director, Mr Robert Locan, Assistant Director, Operations. Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Paul Rofe QC, Ms Wendy Abraham QC, Associate DPP, Ms Geraldine Davidson, Senior Solicitor.
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