Law Reform and Sentencing Advisory Council
The ACT Government has appointed a panel of experts to provide independent advice on sentencing and law reform. The newly formed Law Reform and Sentencing Advisory Council (the Council) is comprised of 13 members from legal and justice stakeholder groups, as well as the community. The Council includes an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representative.
The Council will meet at least four times per year for an initial twelve-month term.
About the Law Reform and Sentencing Advisory Council
The Council will have a dual purpose:
- support the ACT Government to improve Territory laws by inquiring and reporting on law reform matters referred to it by the Attorney-General; and
- sentencing advisory role, which will include providing policy advice on sentencing related matters at the request of the Attorney-General, monitoring and reporting on sentencing trends and practices and engagement with the community on these issues.
The Council will initially operate for twelve months with the potential to be extended subject to the success of the model and feedback from stakeholders and government.
The Law Reform and Sentencing Advisory Council is composed of several key justice stakeholders, each with a wealth of expertise in law reform and sentencing matters. The Council Chair is Lisbeth Campbell, a former ACT Magistrate from 1998 to 2023. In addition to publicly advertised roles, the Council is supported by a Secretariat.
Members of the Council include:
- Anthony Williamson SC, Acting ACT Director of Public Prosecutions
- Dr John Boersig PSM, CEO Legal Aid ACT, representative of legal assistance sector
- Keegan Lee, ACT Bar Association nominated representative
- Deputy Commissioner Neil Gaughan, ACT Chief Police Officer
- Tim Dingwall, President of the ACT Law Society
- Bruno Aloisi, Acting Commissioner of ACT Corrective Services
- Dr Penelope Mathew, President of the ACT Human Rights Commission
- Heidi Yates, ACT Victims of Crime Commissioner, victims of crime advocacy group member
- Dr Janet Hope, senior law academic
- Nadine Miles, expert in juvenile justice related matters
- Joanne Chivers, community member – First Nations
- Shobha Varkey, community member
You can download the full Terms of Reference.
