Was admitted in 1969. Has practiced in private and government law offices. Was appointed Director of Public Prosecutions for Tasmania in 1986. Fairness and balance. The system must safeguard the rights of the accused but be mindful of the interests of the victim, witnesses, the jury and justice practitioners.
Delays create unfairness and increase costs at all stages.
Efficiency and cost effectiveness. The process from charging to conclusion should be conducted efficiently and at a reasonable cost to the community. In briefly suggesting directions towards 2010 some of what I will say will appear repetitive of the principles contained in the Best Practice Model formulated by the Legal Aid Directors and Directors of Public Prosecutions in August 1998. I commend the Legal Aid Directors and in particular Mr. Richard Coates for the positive way in which they approached the task of formulating the Best Practice Model. I am firmly convinced that unless all service providers in the criminal justice system co-operate in this way we will not achieve advances but rather we will be confronted with the prospect of change effected by legislation which, in my view, is not the most appropriate way to achieve change in this area.