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Media Release - 16 June 2009 - Prosecutors Prepare For New Evidence Laws

Hundreds of prosecutors gathered in Melbourne last week to help prepare for an overhaul of the State’s evidence laws that come into effect later this year.

The two-day conference was organised by the Victorian and Commonwealth Directors of Public Prosecution offices, and the Office of Public Prosecutions (OPP).

Victorian DPP, Jeremy Rapke, QC, who officially opened the conference, said it was the first such joint conference to be organised by the offices.

“This fact alone underlines the importance of the subject matter”, Mr Rapke said.

“The introduction of the Evidence Act 2008 is the most significant legislative change in Victoria for more than 50 years,” he said.

The law of evidence determines what a jury hears and therefore how a case is both run and decided.

The Evidence Act 2008, which is expected to come into effect in October, incorporates a number of changes in relation to the admissibility of evidence, matters of proof, competency to give evidence, privilege against self-incrimination, and documentary evidence.

Its introduction will help bring Victoria in line with uniform evidence laws already in place in five other Australian jurisdictions including the Commonwealth, New South Wales and Tasmanian jurisdictions.

More than 300 prosecutors --- from the OPP, CDPP, Department of Justice, Victoria Police, Australian Federal Police and other prosecuting agencies --- attended the conference each day.

Held at Melbourne University on Wednesday, June 10, and Thursday, June 11, the presenters included Chris Beale (Victorian Crown Prosecutor), Stephen Odgers SC (a leading expert in this area of law) and Commonwealth DPP speakers Wendy Abraham QC, Neil Adams, Lincoln Crowley and Bruce Taggart

Victorian DPP Jeremy Rapke, QC, opening the conference