Australian Capital Territory

Legal Aid (Commissioner – Specialist Assistance) Appointment 2016

Disallowable Instrument DI2016–55

made under the  

Legal Aid Act 1977, s 16(1)(d) (Constitution of board)
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Section 6 of the Legal Aid Act 1977 (the Act) establishes the Legal Aid Commission. The Commission’s functions include provision of legal assistance in ACT matters in accordance with the Act.

Sections 16(1)(d) and (3) of the Act provide that the Minister must appoint a specialist assistance member to the Legal Aid Commission Board if the Commission requires specialist assistance in the exercise of its functions.

The Minister is of the opinion that the Commission requires the assistance of a person with experience in Commonwealth Policy, particular in the Attorney-General’s Department.

This instrument appoints Kym Duggan as the specialist assistance member of the Commission’s board for a period of three years.  

Mr Duggan has the requisite experience in Commonwealth policy, commencing his career in the Commonwealth public service in the 1980s. Mr Duggan spent most of his public service career with the Attorney-General’s Department, where he managed the Family Law Branch and finally the Civil Law Division, with primary responsibility for the Commonwealth’s contribution to legal assistance throughout Australia.  This included funding for legal aid commissions, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services and Community Legal Services across Australia. 

Now retired from the Commonwealth public service, Mr Duggan maintains an active involvement in social affairs and undertakes consultancy work in the law and justice area. He is a member of Legal Aid ACT’s Audit, Performance and Risk Committee.

Mr Duggan 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.