The 10th Anniversary of the Law Reform Commission of Australia's Review of the Criminal and Civil Justice System in Western Australia

On 13th October 2009 Murdoch University School of Law, in association with Freehills, hosted a seminar to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Law Reform Commission of Western Australia’s Review of the Criminal and Civil Justice System in Western Australia. This very successful event, which was attended by over 60 professionals from across the spectrum of the justice system, brought together a distinguished panel of speakers. After a welcome from the Law School’s Dean, Professor Moens, proceedings were led by Justice Simmonds of the Supreme Court (a member of the Commission at the time of the Review).

Five speakers then presented their reflections on the impact of the Commission’s recommendations on court proceedings in WA: Chief Justice Wayne Martin of the Supreme Court (Chair of the Commission at the time of the Review), Judge Peter Martino of the District Court, Deputy Chief Magistrate Elizabeth Woods of the Magistrate’s Court, Justice John Chaney, President of the State Administrative Tribunal and Justice Anthony Siopis from the Federal Court (in part delivering a paper prepared by Justice Michael Barker who was belatedly unable to attend). These papers, which looked both at the successes of the reforms and the areas where work was still required, were followed by commentary from a practitioner’s perspective, provided by Freehills partner, Konrad de Kerloy. Finally, the current Chair of the Commission, Mary Anne Kenny (also a Senior Lecturer in Murdoch University School of Law) commented on the significance of this Review in terms of the work of the Commission and its future direction.

Click here for copies of the papers by Chief Justice Martin and Justice Barker .