Victorian Law Reform Commission visits Goulburn Valley
3 September 2001
The Victorian Law Reform Commission will visit the Goulburn Valley Region cities of Shepparton and Wangaratta on Monday 3 and Tuesday 4 September. The Commission has recently been re-established as the central agency for developing law reform in Victoria. It is an independent, government-funded organisation with a charter to facilitate community-wide consultation and advise Parliament on how to improve and update Victorian law.
The Commissioner, Professor Marcia Neave AO, and Chief Executive Officer, Ms Padma Raman, are conducting the visit as part of an initial program to introduce the Commission to the people of the Goulburn Valley and to provide information on law reform projects currently being undertaken. The visit will also give individuals and community groups in the region an opportunity to identify areas of the law which they believe could be improved through law reform.
“The Commission will increase democratic participation in the law reform process by encouraging a community conversation on the areas of law which need changing.” Marcia Neave said. “We aim for a law reform process which is genuinely open to all those who wish to express their views.”
The visit is also intended to enhance the Commission’s consultation program by establishing relationships with community-based organisations in the area. Further regional visits are planned as part of the consultations related to specific law reform projects. The Commission currently has two major projects which have been referred to it by the Attorney-General: Disputes Between Co-owners and Sexual Offences. It has also been asked to look at the area of privacy.
“The Commission has a charter to facilitate community-wide consultation and debate on areas of law in need of reform and aims to take an inclusive and innovative approach. Because people do not always feel able to make written submissions or present evidence formally, the Commission will use approaches which allow individuals and groups to express their views in ways that suit them.” Marcia Neave said.
During the visit, the Commission will be meeting with a wide range of community organisations including the Goulburn Valley Community Health Service, Victims Assistance Program, Centre Against Sexual Assault, Goulburn Valley Law Association and the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service.