Australian Capital Territory

Domestic Violence Agencies (Council) Appointment 2007

Disallowable Instrument DI2007–63
made under the
Domestic Violence Agencies Act 1986, section 6 (Membership)

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Part 2 of the Domestic Violence Agencies Act 1986 (the Act) establishes the Domestic Violence Prevention Council (the Council) and provides for the appointment of its membership.  Sections 6(2) and 6(6) of the Act require the Minister to appoint the chairperson and the members of the Council in writing.

The objective of the Council is to reduce the incidence of domestic violence offences through promoting collaboration among relevant government agencies and advising the Minister on matters relating to domestic violence.

Section 6 of the Act requires the Council to be constituted by thirteen people: a chairperson; the Domestic Violence Project Coordinator; six or more community members (including one person representing people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent, and one person representing people of non-English speaking background); the remaining members (usually five) who are relevantly qualified public servants or statutory office holders.

Section 7 of the Act specifies the term of appointment for members to be two years.

The instrument appoints Katie Firster as the chairperson; Robyn Holder who is the Domestic Violence Project Coordinator; Badra Karunarathna as the non-English speaking background representative; and Dennise Simpson and Patricia Easteal as community members.  Each appointee meets the statutory criteria for appointment and none of these appointees are public servants as defined by the Legislation Act 2001.

Each appointment is retrospective to 1 December 2006 due to the previous council appointments expiring on 30 November 2006 and the Council continuing to hold meetings.   No member of the public is prejudiced by making these appointments retrospective.  

As required by the Legislation Act 2001, the Standing Committee on Legal Affairs has been consulted on the appointments.  The Committee has advised that it has no comments on the appointment of these members.