Related Publications
Civil Justice review extended
4 September 2007
The Victorian Law Reform Commission has received a six-month extension on its reporting date for the review of Civil Justice.
The commission will now report to the Attorney-General by 4 March 2008.
Commission Chairperson, Professor Neil Rees, said he welcomed the extension of the reporting date and extension commissioner Dr Peter Cashman’s term.
“The commission has consulted extensively on this reference and has received many valuable submissions and suggestions in response to a consultation paper and draft proposals for reform,” Professor Rees said.
“Sixty submissions were received in response to the consultation paper and 30 submissions in response to the first draft proposals for reform.
“We have sought extensions because of the sheer magnitude of the task of dealing with reform of the civil justice system. This project requires a considerable amount of time to refine proposals for reform in this area and to formulate a comprehensive report.
“The government has also extended Dr Cashman’s term until December this year, which will give the commission more time to thoroughly examine the proposals and comments that have come through in consultations and submissions,” Professor Rees said.
Dr Cashman said the commission would consult stakeholders again in September on further proposals for reform.
“The commission is about to send out a further exposure draft with proposals for reform in a wide range of areas including case management, self represented litigants, vexatious litigants, interpreters, discovery, costs, confidentiality constraints on conferring with potential witnesses and ongoing reform and review of the civil justice system,” Dr Cashman said.
“Further responses will be sought from interested parties by 28 September 2007. The extension will enable the commission to consider these responses before finalising its report to the Attorney-General.”