2010-2011-2012

 

The Parliament of the

Commonwealth of Australia

 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 

 

 

 

As read a third time

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Judicial Misbehaviour and Incapacity (Parliamentary Commissions) Bill 2012

 

No.      , 2012

 

 

 

 

 

A Bill for an Act to provide for parliamentary commissions to investigate allegations of judicial misbehaviour or incapacity, and for related purposes

   

   

   

Contents

Part 1—Preliminary                                                                                                              1

1............ Short title............................................................................................. 1

2............ Commencement................................................................................... 2

3............ Object of this Act................................................................................ 2

4............ Guide to this Act................................................................................. 3

5............ Extension to external Territories.......................................................... 3

6............ This Act binds the Crown................................................................... 4

7............ Definitions.......................................................................................... 4

Part 2—Establishment, functions and membership etc. of Commissions                 6

8............ Guide to this Part................................................................................ 6

9............ Establishment...................................................................................... 6

10.......... Functions............................................................................................ 7

11.......... Powers................................................................................................ 7

12.......... Commission has privileges and immunities of the Crown.................. 7

13.......... Membership........................................................................................ 7

14.......... Appointment of members.................................................................... 8

15.......... Vacancy in membership...................................................................... 8

16.......... When a Commission ceases to exist.................................................... 9

Part 3—Investigations of Commissions                                                                   10

Division 1—General                                                                                                     10

17.......... Guide to this Division....................................................................... 10

18.......... Decision of questions........................................................................ 10

19.......... How a Commission is informed....................................................... 10

20.......... Natural justice................................................................................... 11

Division 2—Investigations                                                                                        13

Subdivision A—Guide to this Division                                                                 13

21.......... Guide to this Division....................................................................... 13

Subdivision B—Speed of investigations and openness of hearings              14

22.......... Speed of investigations..................................................................... 14

23.......... Openness of hearings........................................................................ 14

Subdivision C—Powers in relation to investigations                                       15

24.......... Hearings............................................................................................ 15

25.......... Power to summon witnesses, take evidence and obtain documents or other things etc.           16

26.......... Additional requirements for notices.................................................. 17

27.......... Arrest of witness failing to appear.................................................... 18

28.......... Search warrants................................................................................. 19

29.......... Operating electronic equipment......................................................... 21

30.......... Expert assistance to operate electronic equipment............................. 22

31.......... Securing other things........................................................................ 23

32.......... Occupier entitled to observe execution of search warrant.................. 24

33.......... Occupier to provide constable with facilities and assistance.............. 25

34.......... Details of search warrant to be given to occupier, etc........................ 25

35.......... Completing execution of a search warrant after temporary cessation 25

36.......... Completing execution of search warrant stopped by court order....... 26

37.......... Copies of seized things to be provided.............................................. 27

38.......... Receipts for seized documents or other things.................................. 27

39.......... Return of seized documents or other things...................................... 28

40.......... Compensation for damage to electronic equipment........................... 28

41.......... Powers of Commission in relation to documents or other things...... 29

42.......... Disposal of documents or other things.............................................. 29

43.......... Compensation for acquisition of property......................................... 30

44.......... Commission may direct that certain information not be published etc. 30

Subdivision D—Costs and expenses of Commonwealth judicial officer and witnesses                 31

45.......... Costs of legal representation for Commonwealth judicial officer...... 31

46.......... Reimbursement of expenses of witnesses......................................... 32

Division 3—Report                                                                                                       33

47.......... Guide to this Division....................................................................... 33

48.......... Report............................................................................................... 33

Division 4—Offences relating to investigations                                             36

49.......... Guide to this Division....................................................................... 36

50.......... Unauthorised presence at hearing...................................................... 36

51.......... Failure of witness to appear.............................................................. 36

52.......... Failure of witness to produce document or other thing..................... 37

53.......... Refusal to be sworn or to give evidence............................................ 38

54.......... Self-incrimination.............................................................................. 38

55.......... Acts or omissions on different days constitute separate offences...... 39

56.......... False or misleading evidence............................................................. 39

57.......... Injury to witness............................................................................... 40

58.......... Preventing witnesses from producing document or other thing........ 40

59.......... Bribery of witness............................................................................. 40

60.......... Fraud on witness............................................................................... 41

61.......... Obstruction of a Commission........................................................... 41

62.......... Failure to provide facilities and assistance......................................... 42

63.......... Unauthorised publication of material................................................. 42

Division 5—Protections                                                                                              43

64.......... Guide to this Division....................................................................... 43

65.......... Protection of members, witnesses and lawyers................................. 43

66.......... Protection in relation to contraventions of prohibitions..................... 44

67.......... Hearings and evidence of a Commission.......................................... 44

Part 4—Terms and conditions of membership                                                   45

68.......... Guide to this Part.............................................................................. 45

69.......... Terms and conditions generally......................................................... 45

70.......... Other employment............................................................................. 45

71.......... Remuneration.................................................................................... 45

72.......... Resignation....................................................................................... 46

73.......... Termination, or cessation, of appointment......................................... 46

74.......... Disclosure of interests by members.................................................. 47

Part 5—Administrative provisions                                                                             48

75.......... Guide to this Part.............................................................................. 48

76.......... Staff of a Commission...................................................................... 48

77.......... Consultants....................................................................................... 49

78.......... Counsel assisting a Commission....................................................... 49

79.......... Commission to be part of Department of House of Representatives or Senate         49

80.......... Commission must prepare and keep statements of reasons about search warrants   50

81.......... Commission may give information, evidence, documents etc........... 50

82.......... Records of a Commission................................................................. 51

Part 6—Miscellaneous                                                                                                        53

83.......... Regulations....................................................................................... 53

This Bill originated in the House of Representatives; and, having this day passed, is now ready for presentation to the Senate for its concurrence.

B.C. WRIGHT

Clerk of the House of Representatives

House of Representatives

10 September 2012

A Bill for an Act to provide for parliamentary commissions to investigate allegations of judicial misbehaviour or incapacity, and for related purposes

The Parliament of Australia enacts: