The Directorate is responsible for reviewing and developing policy and legislation across the justice and community safety portfolio.
Our law enforcement regime maintains the public safety and social order of the community.
A variety of organisations and programs come together to identify and respond to crime, safety and justice priorities.
Information about the ways we promote, support and protect rights.
All about the Human Rights Act, how it works and the review process.
FOI gives members of the community a legally enforceable right to access documents held by government.
Access to a range of emergency response information.
Things you can do now to be prepared.
Our emergency response framework.
Members of our community who respond in emergencies.
Safety considerations and information for personal and family wellbeing.
How we keep our community safe.
How we keep safe on ACT roads.
Business obligations for safe workplaces.
Keeping ACT Government assets and information secure.
A national approach to security preparedness and planning.
The Directorate is responsible for legislation dealing with commercial regulation in the ACT.
In the ACT there are rights and responsibilities that regulate how business owners, their staff and their customers interact.
The Office of Regulatory Services undertakes activities to ensure compliance to regulations.
The Directorate educates the ACT community and industry on regulatory functions and obligations.
The Directorate and other justice portfolio agencies are responsible to the ACT Attorney General and Minister for Police and Emergency Services.
The Directorate plays a vital role in providing information and advice to the Minister and supporting ACT representation in national fora.
The Directorate's responsibility for government activities of justice administration, rights protection, business regulation and emergency services.
ACT Corrective Services delivers adult correctional and detention services.
ACT Courts and Tribunal deliver justice through sentencing in criminal cases and rulings in civil cases.
The ACT Emergency Services Agency is responsible for emergency management planning and response.
The ACT Government Solicitor provides legal advice and services to the ACT Government and its agencies.
The Legislation and Policy Branch provides policy advice and research services to develop ACT policies and legislation.
The Office of Regulatory Services undertakes registration and business regulation functions.
The Parliamentary Counsel’s Office provides legislative drafting and publishing services for ACT legislation.
Policing services in the ACT are purchased from the Australian Federal Police.
The Security and Emergency Management Branch is responsible for protection and emergency planning for all hazards, including counter-terrorism.
A number of independent statutory agencies are administered under the portfolio umbrella of justice and community safety.
Victim Support ACT provides specialised assistance to help victims of crime participate in the justice process.
The Director of Public Prosecutions provides independent and effective criminal prosecution services.
Elections ACT is responsible for conducting elections and referendums for the ACT.
The ACT Human Rights Commission promotes the human rights and welfare of people living in the ACT.
The Public Advocate protects the interests, rights and dignity of vulnerable people and those with a disability.
The Public Trustee provides independent, professional trustee and asset management services.
The Work Safety Commissioner promotes and educates stakeholders on matters relating to workplace safety in the ACT.
The ACT Law Reform Advisory Council (LRAC) was established in 2009 as a collaboration between the ACT Government and the ANU College of Law. LRAC’s Terms of Reference specify that its role is to ‘provide expert advice and recommendations to the Attorney-General on terms of reference dealing with law reform matters referred to it by the Attorney-General’.
It responds to requests from the ACT Attorney-General to advise on significant legal policy issues. LRAC does not have the power to instigate its own inquiries.
Drawing on the extensive expertise of the academic staff of the ANU College of Law, LRAC responds to requests from the ACT Attorney-General to advise on significant legal policy issues.
LRAC is comprised of members who are expert in a wide variety of law related fields, from judges, magistrates and practising lawyers, to police, community and consumer agencies, and victims support groups. It is chaired by Associate Professor Simon Rice, Director for Law Reform and Social Justice at the ANU College of Law, where the LRAC is based.
In late 2009 the ACT Attorney-General, Simon Corbell MLA, asked LRAC to inquire into and report to him on the rate of imposition of suspended sentences in the ACT.
Under its Terms of Reference, LRAC is comprised of a wide panel of expert members who are selected from time to time by the Attorney-General for a period of up to three years. Members are appointed for their expertise in matters relating to law and legal policy, and not as representatives of any organisation.
The LRAC Chairperson is a staff member of the ANU College of Law.
Current LRAC members are:
Ms Robyn Holder Ms Kate McMullan Mr Athol Opas Mr Stuart Pilkinton Assistant Commissioner Roman Quaedvlieg APM Professor Murray Raff Justice Richard Refshauge Associate Professor Simon Rice OAM (Chairperson) Mr Peter Sutherland Chief Magistrate Lorraine Walker Dr Helen Watchirs OAM Ms Veronica Wensing Mr Jon White Ms Heidi Yates
Ms Robyn Holder
Ms Kate McMullan
Mr Athol Opas
Mr Stuart Pilkinton
Assistant Commissioner Roman Quaedvlieg APM
Professor Murray Raff
Justice Richard Refshauge
Associate Professor Simon Rice OAM (Chairperson)
Mr Peter Sutherland
Chief Magistrate Lorraine Walker
Dr Helen Watchirs OAM
Ms Veronica Wensing
Mr Jon White
Ms Heidi Yates
Office LocationANU College of LawAustralian National UniversityCANBERRA ACT 0200
lrac@lrac.law.anu.edu.au
Phone(02) 6125 7845
Fax(02) 6125 0103