The Law Society Northern Territory (The Society) has welcomed the opportunity to make a submission to Australia?s ratification of the Optional Protocol to Convention against Torture (OPCAT).

The Society represents approximately 600 lawyers in the Northern Territory including Government and private lawyers. The mission of the Society is to enhance access to justice, improving the law and maintaining individual rights. Importantly the Society is charged with considering proposed changes in the law and aiding such amendments and reforms thereof that are likely to benefit the public. In doing this the Society focuses on evidence based interventions and ensuring legal needs are addressed.

Standing Council on Law and Justice

18 November 2011

The inaugural meeting of the Standing Council on Law and Justice (SCLJ) was held on 18 November 2011 in Launceston, Tasmania. The Tasmanian Attorney-General chaired the meeting. The Commonwealth, State and Territory Attorneys-General and the Commonwealth Minister for Home Affairs and Justice were in attendance.

This Bill was introduced into the NT Parliament on 26 November 2009 and is scheduled to be debated at the February 2010 Sittings. The final Bill introduced includes a number of channels suggested by the Commercial Law Committee and the assistance of members of the Committee, who put a large number of hours into the Bill, is appreciated.