Learning from Preventable Deaths: A prospective evaluation of reforms to Coroners' recommendation powers in Victoria. Coroners in Australia investigate nearly 13,000 deaths each year and have a unique vantage point on health and safety risks. The public as a whole will benefit from information that helps translate those insights into system changes that work to prevent injuries and accidents from occurring. This project is designed to produce such information. It will also serve stakeholders ....Learning from Preventable Deaths: A prospective evaluation of reforms to Coroners' recommendation powers in Victoria. Coroners in Australia investigate nearly 13,000 deaths each year and have a unique vantage point on health and safety risks. The public as a whole will benefit from information that helps translate those insights into system changes that work to prevent injuries and accidents from occurring. This project is designed to produce such information. It will also serve stakeholders at several other levels. By illuminating circumstances in which coroners recommendations produce positive change, project findings will help coroners shape and disseminate their prevention messages for maximum effect. Also, for states interested in modifying or boosting coroners' recommendation powers, our findings will help guide reforms.Read moreRead less
Protecting economic, social and cultural Rights in the ACT: models, methods and impact. This project will generate new thinking on the protection of economic, social and cultural rights. It will develop impact assessment frameworks and protocols for the assessment of compliance with these rights. The project will benefit not only the ACT by informing consideration of the inclusion of economic, social and cultural rights in the ACT Human Rights Act, but also other Australian jurisdictions' deli ....Protecting economic, social and cultural Rights in the ACT: models, methods and impact. This project will generate new thinking on the protection of economic, social and cultural rights. It will develop impact assessment frameworks and protocols for the assessment of compliance with these rights. The project will benefit not only the ACT by informing consideration of the inclusion of economic, social and cultural rights in the ACT Human Rights Act, but also other Australian jurisdictions' deliberations over bills of rights, including consideration of a national bill. Other benefits include training students and informing Australia's engagement with the UN on an Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.Read moreRead less
Legal risk management of adverse health outcomes and injury in the fitness industry: developing evidence-informed regulation that improves safety. This project analyses Australian laws, policies and practices designed to manage legal risks and liabilities in the fitness industry, and assesses their effectiveness in preventing adverse health outcomes, injuries, and the legal liability associated with those risks.
Gauging informed public opinion on sentencing sex offenders: a national study. Sex offences appear to attract the greatest community condemnation and desire to punish, particularly when involving predatory stranger rapists or when the victims are children. This national study aims to ascertain informed public opinion on sex offender sentencing by exploring the views of jurors in sex offence trials in all higher courts in Australia.
The Changing Role Of The Magistrates Court. Magistrates courts have far more contact with the community than any other court but have rarely been the subject of direct research. Recent changes include greater professional qualifications for magistrates and increased volume, complexity and seriousness of cases. This project will survey the changing social/demographic characteristics of magistrates; analyse their daily work, especially increased judicial functions; and examine roles played by s ....The Changing Role Of The Magistrates Court. Magistrates courts have far more contact with the community than any other court but have rarely been the subject of direct research. Recent changes include greater professional qualifications for magistrates and increased volume, complexity and seriousness of cases. This project will survey the changing social/demographic characteristics of magistrates; analyse their daily work, especially increased judicial functions; and examine roles played by social service providers. It will produce a better understanding of magistrates courts, emphasising ideas of judicial independence and accountability, essential to ensuring high standards for the Australian legal system and its relation to the community.Read moreRead less
Enhancing court safety by managing people, places and processes. Australia will be better protected 'from terrorism and crime' by having safer courts. High-profile criminal cases can be managed more expeditiously, vulnerable participants will be able to take part more confidently in justice processes, while Australian society more generally will be protected by having courts that provide effective responses to crime while maintaining openness and respect for law. In providing a holistic analy ....Enhancing court safety by managing people, places and processes. Australia will be better protected 'from terrorism and crime' by having safer courts. High-profile criminal cases can be managed more expeditiously, vulnerable participants will be able to take part more confidently in justice processes, while Australian society more generally will be protected by having courts that provide effective responses to crime while maintaining openness and respect for law. In providing a holistic analysis of safety needs and responses, the study also provides an empirial foundation for developing 'smart information uses', ensuring that surveillance and screening technologies complement court design and training policies to create environments that are physically and psychologically safe.Read moreRead less
Building the Rule of Law in International Affairs. Australia has been committed to a rules-based international system since the foundation of the UN and, while recently wavering in practice has remained formally supportive of international law. This is not just a matter of values. As a major trading nation and a middle power, Australia prosperity and security would benefit from a more rules-based international order. This project aims to find practical ways of bolstering and building the rule of ....Building the Rule of Law in International Affairs. Australia has been committed to a rules-based international system since the foundation of the UN and, while recently wavering in practice has remained formally supportive of international law. This is not just a matter of values. As a major trading nation and a middle power, Australia prosperity and security would benefit from a more rules-based international order. This project aims to find practical ways of bolstering and building the rule of law in international affairs. In doing so, this international research involving the UN, a Canadian think tank and UN University's Australian based governance institute will allow Australia to take leadership role in multilateral thinking and action to bolster the international rule of law. Read moreRead less
Asking the right questions: improving juror comprehension of judicial directions. Juror comprehension is fundamental to the role of juries in the criminal justice system. This project will comprehensively evaluate jurors' ability to comprehend both standard and modified judicial directions. Based on these results, 'model' processes for jury directions will be recommended, aimed at improving juror comprehension.
Strengthening the Human Rights Focus of Anti-Discrimination Law and Practice. Australian anti-discrimination legislation aims to promote and protect human rights, but its impact has been limited by reliance on private, individualised complaint-handling processes, and by the limited capacity of anti-discrimination agencies to engage in broader inquiries or litigation strategies. This project will determine how to maximise awareness and protection of human rights through the discrimination complai ....Strengthening the Human Rights Focus of Anti-Discrimination Law and Practice. Australian anti-discrimination legislation aims to promote and protect human rights, but its impact has been limited by reliance on private, individualised complaint-handling processes, and by the limited capacity of anti-discrimination agencies to engage in broader inquiries or litigation strategies. This project will determine how to maximise awareness and protection of human rights through the discrimination complaint-handling process, the management of anti-discrimination litigation, and/or the use of other agency functions and powers. By incorporating both the conciliation and litigation aspects of anti-discrimination procedures, systematically examining international models, and involving one of the anti-discrimination agencies as industry partner, the project is designed to contribute significantly to the implementation of human rights in Australia.Read moreRead less
Characteristics and causes of indigenous over-representation in the criminal justice system: A Victorian case-study. Addressing Indigenous disadvantage was identified as a national priority by the Council of Australian Governments in 2002. Our research builds on this initiative by examining important policy questions that are central to Indigenous disadvantage within the justice system. This research adds substantial value to the existing national investment in the collection of data on Indige ....Characteristics and causes of indigenous over-representation in the criminal justice system: A Victorian case-study. Addressing Indigenous disadvantage was identified as a national priority by the Council of Australian Governments in 2002. Our research builds on this initiative by examining important policy questions that are central to Indigenous disadvantage within the justice system. This research adds substantial value to the existing national investment in the collection of data on Indigenous involvement in justice processes, and will assist in the development and implementation of programs to address what has previously been an intractable problem. A key element in the project is establishing strong links with Indigenous community representatives so that the results of the research are made available to those most directly concerned with them.Read moreRead less