Australian Capital Territory

Legal Aid (Commissioner – ACTCOSS Nominee) Appointment 2015

Disallowable Instrument DI2015–218

made under the  

Legal Aid Act 1977, s 16(2) (Constitution of board)
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Section 6 of the Legal Aid Act 1977 (the Act) establishes the Legal Aid Commission (A.C.T). The Commission’s functions include provision of legal assistance in ACT matters in accordance with the Act.

Section 16(1)(c)(iv) of the Act provides that the Commission’s Board must consist of “one member who is chosen from a panel of not less than three people nominated by the executive committee of the Council of Social Service of the Australian Capital Territory (ACTCOSS)”. 

This instrument appoints Ms Genevieve Bolton as a member of the Commission’s Board nominated by the ACTCOSS, pursuant to section 16(1)(c)(iv) of the Act for a period of three years.

Ms Bolton has extensive experience with the community legal sector. She has been Coordinator and Principal Solicitor of Canberra Community Law since July 2010.  She also holds positions on a number of Committees. She is a member of the Tenants Union (ACT) Management Committee, the ACT Pro Bono Clearing House Management Committee and is the ACT Representative on the National Association of Community Legal Centre’s Professional Indemnity Insurance Subcommittee.

Ms Bolton is not a public servant.  Under section 228 of the Legislation Act 2001, this appointment required consultation with the Standing Committee on Justice and Community Safety.  The Committee advised that it had no comments on the appointment.