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SENTENCING AMENDMENT (HISTORICAL HOMOSEXUAL CONVICTIONS EXPUNGEMENT) BILL 2014 (COUNCIL INITIATED)

                 PARLIAMENT OF VICTORIA

   Sentencing Amendment (Historical Homosexual
        Convictions Expungement) Bill 2014



                      TABLE OF PROVISIONS
Clause                                                                    Page

PART 1--PRELIMINARY                                                          1
  1      Purpose                                                             1
  2      Commencement                                                        2

PART 2--AMENDMENT OF SENTENCING ACT 1991                                     3
  3      New Part 8 inserted                                                 3
         PART 8--HISTORICAL HOMOSEXUAL CONVICTIONS                           3
         105    Definitions                                                  3
         105A   Part to bind the Crown                                       6
         105B   Application to Secretary for convictions for historical
                homosexual offences to be expunged                           6
         105C Submission of further information etc.                         9
         105D Consideration of application                                   9
         105E Response to enquiries or requests for information             11
         105F Appointment of advisors                                       12
         105G Mandatory tests                                               12
         105H Withdrawal of application                                     14
         105I   Determination of application                                14
         105J   Effect of expungement of conviction                         15
         105K Obligations in relation to official records                   17
         105L Jurisdiction of VCAT                                          19
         105M Restriction on right to re-apply                              19
         105N Delegation                                                    20
         105O Confidentiality                                               20
         105P Giving of notices                                             21
         105Q Evidentiary provisions                                        21
         105R Immunity                                                      22
         105S No entitlement to compensation                                22
  4      New section 157 inserted                                           23
         157    Transitional provision--Sentencing Amendment
                (Historical Homosexual Convictions Expungement)
                Act 2014                                                    23




571557B.I-17/9/2014                   i      BILL LC INTRODUCTION 17/9/2014

 


 

Clause Page PART 3--AMENDMENT OF VICTORIAN CIVIL AND ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL ACT 1998 25 5 New Part 18 inserted in Schedule 1 25 PART 18--SENTENCING ACT 1991 25 78 Application of Part 25 79 Constitution of Tribunal 25 80 Confidentiality of proceeding 25 81 Effect of original decision pending review 26 82 Tribunal file not open for inspection 27 PART 4--REPEAL OF AMENDING ACT 28 6 Repeal of amending Act 28 ENDNOTES 29 571557B.I-17/9/2014 ii BILL LC INTRODUCTION 17/9/2014

 


 

PARLIAMENT OF VICTORIA Introduced in the Council Sentencing Amendment (Historical Homosexual Convictions Expungement) Bill 2014 A Bill for an Act to amend the Sentencing Act 1991 to establish a scheme under which convictions for certain offences related to conduct engaged in for the purposes of, or in connection with, sexual activity of a homosexual nature may be expunged, to make consequential amendments to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 1998 and for other purposes. The Parliament of Victoria enacts: PART 1--PRELIMINARY 1 Purpose The purpose of this Act is to amend the Sentencing Act 1991 to establish a scheme under 5 which convictions for certain offences related to conduct engaged in for the purposes of, or in 571557B.I-17/9/2014 1 BILL LC INTRODUCTION 17/9/2014

 


 

Sentencing Amendment (Historical Homosexual Convictions Expungement) Bill 2014 Part 1--Preliminary s. 2 connection with, sexual activity of a homosexual nature may be expunged. 2 Commencement (1) Subject to subsection (2), this Act comes into 5 operation on a day or days to be proclaimed. (2) If a provision of this Act does not come into operation before 1 September 2015, it comes into operation on that day. __________________ 571557B.I-17/9/2014 2 BILL LC INTRODUCTION 17/9/2014

 


 

Sentencing Amendment (Historical Homosexual Convictions Expungement) Bill 2014 Part 2--Amendment of Sentencing Act 1991 s. 3 PART 2--AMENDMENT OF SENTENCING ACT 1991 3 New Part 8 inserted After Part 7 of the Sentencing Act 1991 insert-- See: Act No. 49/1991. "PART 8--HISTORICAL HOMOSEXUAL Reprint No. 16 5 CONVICTIONS as at 1 July 2014 and 105 Definitions amending Act Nos (1) In this Part-- 32/2013, 77/2013, agreement includes arrangement; 15/2014, 17/2014, application means application under section 37/2014, 10 105B; 47/2014, 52/2014, 55/2014, conviction includes a finding of guilt made 61/2014 and by a court, whether or not a conviction 63/2014. LawToday: is recorded; www. legislation. Crim Trac means the Crim Trac Agency vic.gov.au 15 established under section 65 of the Public Service Act 1999 of the Commonwealth; data controller, in relation to official records held by-- 20 (a) a court, means the Court Chief Executive Officer for the court appointed under section 30 of the Court Services Victoria Act 2014; or 25 (b) VCAT, means the Court Chief Executive Officer for VCAT appointed under section 30 of the Court Services Victoria Act 2014; or 30 (c) Victoria Police, means the Chief Commissioner of Police; or 571557B.I-17/9/2014 3 BILL LC INTRODUCTION 17/9/2014

 


 

Sentencing Amendment (Historical Homosexual Convictions Expungement) Bill 2014 Part 2--Amendment of Sentencing Act 1991 s. 3 (d) the Office of Public Prosecutions, means the Solicitor for Public Prosecutions appointed under section 42 of the Public 5 Prosecutions Act 1994; expunged conviction means a conviction that has become an expunged conviction by force of section 105I; historical homosexual offence means-- 10 (a) a sexual offence or a public morality offence; or (b) an offence of attempting to commit a sexual offence or a public morality offence; or 15 (c) an offence of being involved (within the meaning given by section 323(1)(a) or (b) of the Crimes Act 1958) in the commission of a sexual offence or 20 a public morality offence; or (d) an offence of inciting or conspiring to commit a sexual offence or a public morality offence; 25 legal proceeding has the same meaning as in the Evidence (Miscellaneous Proceedings) Act 1958; official records means records containing information about convictions held by 30 any court, VCAT, Victoria Police or the Office of Public Prosecutions; public morality offence means an offence, other than a sexual offence, as in force at any time-- 571557B.I-17/9/2014 4 BILL LC INTRODUCTION 17/9/2014

 


 

Sentencing Amendment (Historical Homosexual Convictions Expungement) Bill 2014 Part 2--Amendment of Sentencing Act 1991 s. 3 (a) the essence of which is the maintenance of public decency or morality; and (b) by which homosexual behaviour 5 could be punished; Example Behaving in an indecent or offensive manner contrary to section 17(1)(d) of the Summary Offences Act 1966. 10 registered medical practitioner means a person registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law to practise in the medical profession (other than as a student); 15 relevant authorisation, in relation to an Act, means a licence, permit, approval, consent, accreditation, exemption or other authorisation under that Act; secondary record means an official record 20 that is a copy, duplicate or reproduction of, or extract from, another existing official record, irrespective of whether those records are held by the same entity or by different entities; 25 sexual offence means an offence as in force at any time by which any form of homosexual conduct, whether consensual or non-consensual or penetrative or non-penetrative, could be 30 punished, whether or not heterosexual conduct could also be punished by the offence; Example Buggery contrary to section 68(2) of the 35 Crimes Act 1958 (as in force immediately before the commencement of the Crimes (Sexual Offences) Act 1980) or indecent 571557B.I-17/9/2014 5 BILL LC INTRODUCTION 17/9/2014

 


 

Sentencing Amendment (Historical Homosexual Convictions Expungement) Bill 2014 Part 2--Amendment of Sentencing Act 1991 s. 3 assault on a male person contrary to section 65(3) of the Crimes Act 1928. Victoria Police has the same meaning as in the Victoria Police Act 2013. 5 (2) In this Part, a reference to an expunged conviction includes a reference to-- (a) the charge to which the expunged conviction relates; and (b) any investigation or legal process 10 associated with that charge or the conviction. 105A Part to bind the Crown (1) This Part binds the Crown, not only in right of the State of Victoria, but also, so far as the 15 legislative power of the Parliament permits, the Crown in all its other capacities. (2) Nothing in this section affects any other provision of this Act. 105B Application to Secretary for convictions 20 for historical homosexual offences to be expunged (1) A person who has been convicted of a historical homosexual offence is entitled to apply to the Secretary for the conviction to 25 be expunged. (2) An application must-- (a) be in the form approved by the Secretary; and (b) be-- 30 (i) signed by the applicant; or (ii) if the applicant is not able to sign the application because of a disability within the meaning of 571557B.I-17/9/2014 6 BILL LC INTRODUCTION 17/9/2014

 


 

Sentencing Amendment (Historical Homosexual Convictions Expungement) Bill 2014 Part 2--Amendment of Sentencing Act 1991 s. 3 the Equal Opportunity Act 2010, accompanied by a statement from a registered medical practitioner certifying-- 5 (A) that the person suffers from such a disability; and (B) that the person is not able to sign the application because of that disability; and 10 (c) include any identifying information of a kind approved by the Secretary. (3) The approved form must provide for the supplying of the following information-- (a) the full name of the applicant and any 15 other names by which the applicant is or has been known; and (b) the residential address and telephone number of the applicant; and (c) the date and place of birth of the 20 applicant; and (d) the gender of the applicant; and (e) an address to which notices or other documents addressed to the applicant may be sent, which may be a residential 25 or business address, a post office box or an email address; and (f) the residential address of the applicant at the time of the offence and of the conviction; and 30 (g) in relation to the historical homosexual offence to which the application relates, so far as known to the applicant-- 571557B.I-17/9/2014 7 BILL LC INTRODUCTION 17/9/2014

 


 

Sentencing Amendment (Historical Homosexual Convictions Expungement) Bill 2014 Part 2--Amendment of Sentencing Act 1991 s. 3 (i) the name and location of the court by which the applicant was convicted; and (ii) the date of the conviction; and 5 (iii) the name of the offence; and (iv) details of the offence and the offending conduct. (4) The approved form must include provision for the applicant to-- 10 (a) authorise the conduct of a police record check on the applicant in relation to the conviction to which the application relates; and (b) consent to the disclosure to the 15 Secretary of any official records relating to that conviction created by a court, VCAT, Victoria Police or the Office of Public Prosecutions, whether held by that entity or by any other 20 entity. (5) An application may include, or be accompanied by, statements by the applicant or written evidence given by any other person (including a person involved in the 25 conduct constituting the offence) about the matters about which the Secretary must be satisfied under section 105G(1). (6) The Secretary, for the convenience of applicants, must publish on an internet site 30 maintained by the Secretary-- (a) a blank application in the form approved by the Secretary; and (b) a list of the kinds of identifying information that are approved by the 35 Secretary as acceptable for the purpose 571557B.I-17/9/2014 8 BILL LC INTRODUCTION 17/9/2014

 


 

Sentencing Amendment (Historical Homosexual Convictions Expungement) Bill 2014 Part 2--Amendment of Sentencing Act 1991 s. 3 of establishing the identity of an applicant. 105C Submission of further information etc. (1) If the Secretary receives an application that 5 does not include all the information required by section 105B, the Secretary may require the applicant to provide that information in the manner required by the Secretary within 28 days or any longer period that the 10 Secretary determines. (2) The applicant may submit to the Secretary statements or evidence of a kind referred to in section 105B(5) at any time after making the application and before it has been 15 determined by the Secretary. (3) Nothing in subsection (1) prevents the Secretary considering an application that does not include all the information required by section 105B if the Secretary chooses to 20 do so. 105D Consideration of application (1) In considering an application, the Secretary-- (a) must, in particular, consider-- 25 (i) any available record of the investigation of the offence, and of any proceedings relating to it, that the Secretary considers to be relevant; and 30 (ii) any statements or written evidence of a kind referred to in section 105B(5) included in, or accompanying, the application or subsequently submitted by the 35 applicant; and 571557B.I-17/9/2014 9 BILL LC INTRODUCTION 17/9/2014

 


 

Sentencing Amendment (Historical Homosexual Convictions Expungement) Bill 2014 Part 2--Amendment of Sentencing Act 1991 s. 3 (b) must have regard to any advice provided by any person to whom the Secretary has referred the application for advice; and 5 Note See section 105F. (c) may make enquiries to, or request information on the application from, any person or body that the Secretary 10 thinks fit, including any court and the Director of Public Prosecutions; and (d) may require the applicant to provide any further information that the Secretary thinks fit in the manner 15 required by the Secretary within 28 days or any longer period that the Secretary determines; and (e) must not hold an oral hearing for the purpose of determining the application. 20 (2) Subsection (3) applies to a record of the investigation of an offence or of any proceedings relating to an offence which the Secretary has obtained because of a consent given by an applicant under section 25 105B(4)(b) or an enquiry or request made by the Secretary under subsection (1)(c) in relation to an application. (3) The Secretary, as soon as reasonably practical after obtaining the record-- 30 (a) must give the applicant access to it, except so far as it contains information relating to the personal affairs of any person other than the applicant; and (b) must give written notice to the 35 applicant that the Secretary will not 571557B.I-17/9/2014 10 BILL LC INTRODUCTION 17/9/2014

 


 

Sentencing Amendment (Historical Homosexual Convictions Expungement) Bill 2014 Part 2--Amendment of Sentencing Act 1991 s. 3 proceed to determine the application until at least 28 days, or any longer period that the Secretary determines and specifies in the notice, have passed 5 from the day on which the applicant is given access to the record. Note The period provided for under paragraph (b) allows the applicant to determine whether to 10 withdraw the application under section 105H or submit, under section 105C(2), statements or evidence of a kind referred to in section 105B(5). (4) In subsection (3)-- 15 information relating to the personal affairs of any person means information-- (a) that identifies a person or discloses their address or location; or 20 (b) from which a person's identity, address or location can reasonably be determined. 105E Response to enquiries or requests for information 25 (1) A person or body to whom an enquiry or request for information is made by the Secretary under section 105D(1)(c) must respond to the enquiry or request as promptly as possible. 30 (2) Without limiting subsection (1), if a request under section 105D(1)(c) is for a data controller to provide to the Secretary a copy of an official record held by the data controller, the data controller must comply 35 with that request as promptly as possible. 571557B.I-17/9/2014 11 BILL LC INTRODUCTION 17/9/2014

 


 

Sentencing Amendment (Historical Homosexual Convictions Expungement) Bill 2014 Part 2--Amendment of Sentencing Act 1991 s. 3 (3) A person or body, in responding to an enquiry or request, is not bound by any duty of confidentiality imposed on the person or body by or under any Act (including the 5 Judicial Proceedings Reports Act 1958) or agreement, despite anything to the contrary in that Act or agreement. 105F Appointment of advisors (1) The Secretary may appoint one or more 10 persons who are legal practitioners of at least 5 years standing to provide advice on any particular application or on such applications generally. (2) A person appointed under subsection (1) is 15 entitled to be paid the fees and allowances (if any) that are fixed from time to time by the Secretary for that person. 105G Mandatory tests (1) The Secretary must refuse an application 20 unless satisfied-- (a) that the offence is a historical homosexual offence; and (b) that, on the balance of probabilities, both of the following tests are satisfied 25 in relation to the applicant-- (i) the applicant would not have been charged with the historical homosexual offence but for the fact that the applicant was 30 suspected of having engaged in the conduct constituting the offence for the purposes of, or in connection with, sexual activity of a homosexual nature; 571557B.I-17/9/2014 12 BILL LC INTRODUCTION 17/9/2014

 


 

Sentencing Amendment (Historical Homosexual Convictions Expungement) Bill 2014 Part 2--Amendment of Sentencing Act 1991 s. 3 (ii) that conduct, if engaged in by the applicant at the time of making the application, would not constitute an offence under the law of 5 Victoria. (2) In considering whether the test set out in subsection (1)(b)(ii) is satisfied, the Secretary must (where relevant) have regard to-- 10 (a) whether any person involved in the conduct constituting the offence (including the applicant) consented to the conduct; and (b) the ages, or respective ages, of any such 15 persons at the time of that conduct. (3) Subsection (4) applies if-- (a) consent of a person is a relevant issue in determining whether the test set out in subsection (1)(b)(ii) is satisfied; and 20 (b) the Secretary is not satisfied, from the available official records, that consent had been given. (4) The Secretary may only be satisfied on the issue of consent by written evidence 25 touching on that issue-- (a) from a person (other than the applicant) who was involved in the conduct constituting the offence; or (b) if no such person can be found after 30 reasonable enquiries are made by the applicant, from a person (other than the applicant) with knowledge of the circumstances in which that conduct occurred. 571557B.I-17/9/2014 13 BILL LC INTRODUCTION 17/9/2014

 


 

Sentencing Amendment (Historical Homosexual Convictions Expungement) Bill 2014 Part 2--Amendment of Sentencing Act 1991 s. 3 105H Withdrawal of application (1) An applicant may withdraw their application at any time before the Secretary determines it. 5 (2) The Secretary may treat an application as having been withdrawn if the applicant does not, within the applicable period, provide any information required under section 105C(1) or further information 10 required under section 105D(1)(d). (3) Despite an application being withdrawn or treated as being withdrawn under this section, the Secretary may reinstate the application if satisfied that the 15 applicant wants to proceed with it and has provided any information required under section 105C(1) or further information required under section 105D(1)(d). 105I Determination of application 20 (1) The Secretary must determine an application as promptly as possible consistent with this Act and its proper determination. (2) The Secretary must give written notice of the determination to the applicant and each 25 relevant data controller within 14 days after making it. (3) If an application is approved, the historical homosexual conviction is expunged by force of this section at the end of the prescribed 30 period after the making of the determination. (4) If the determination is a refusal of the application, the written notice must-- (a) state the reasons for the determination; and 571557B.I-17/9/2014 14 BILL LC INTRODUCTION 17/9/2014

 


 

Sentencing Amendment (Historical Homosexual Convictions Expungement) Bill 2014 Part 2--Amendment of Sentencing Act 1991 s. 3 (b) inform the applicant that they may apply to VCAT to have the determination reviewed; and (c) explain how an application may be 5 made to VCAT. (5) If the determination is an approval of the application, the written notice must-- (a) state the reasons for the determination; and 10 (b) advise that any relevant data controller may apply to VCAT to have the determination reviewed; and (c) explain how an application may be made to VCAT. 15 105J Effect of expungement of conviction On and after a conviction of a person becoming an expunged conviction-- (a) a question about the person's criminal history (including one put in a legal 20 proceeding and required to be answered under oath) is to be taken not to refer to the expunged conviction, but to refer only to any conviction that the person has that is not expunged; and 25 (b) the person is not required to disclose to any other person for any purpose (including when giving evidence under oath in a legal proceeding) information concerning the expunged conviction; 30 and (c) in the application to the person of an Act, subordinate instrument or agreement-- 571557B.I-17/9/2014 15 BILL LC INTRODUCTION 17/9/2014

 


 

Sentencing Amendment (Historical Homosexual Convictions Expungement) Bill 2014 Part 2--Amendment of Sentencing Act 1991 s. 3 (i) a reference to a conviction, however expressed, is to be taken not to refer to the expunged conviction; and 5 (ii) a reference to the person's character or fitness, however expressed, is not to be taken as allowing or requiring account to be taken of the expunged 10 conviction; and (d) the expunged conviction, or the non- disclosure of the expunged conviction, is not a proper ground for-- (i) refusing the person any 15 appointment, post, status or privilege; or (ii) revoking any appointment, status or privilege held by the person, or dismissing the person from any 20 post; and (e) the fact that a refusal, revocation or dismissal of a kind referred to in paragraph (d) occurred, solely on account of that conviction, before the 25 conviction became an expunged conviction is not a proper ground for such a refusal, revocation or dismissal occurring after the expungement; and (f) the person may re-apply, without 30 waiting out any minimum period between applications for the relevant authorisation provided for by or under an Act, for a relevant authorisation under an Act an application for which 35 was refused, solely on account of that 571557B.I-17/9/2014 16 BILL LC INTRODUCTION 17/9/2014

 


 

Sentencing Amendment (Historical Homosexual Convictions Expungement) Bill 2014 Part 2--Amendment of Sentencing Act 1991 s. 3 conviction, before it became an expunged conviction. Note Oath is defined by section 38 of the Interpretation of 5 Legislation Act 1984 as including an affirmation. 105K Obligations in relation to official records (1) The Secretary, within the prescribed period after a conviction becomes an expunged conviction, must notify any relevant data 10 controller in writing of that fact. (2) A data controller must take the action set out in subsection (3) in relation to any entry relating to the conviction contained in any official records under their management or 15 control as soon as reasonably practical after receiving a notice under subsection (1) and, in any event, not later than the prescribed period after receiving it. (3) The action is-- 20 (a) except for records covered by paragraph (b), annotate the entry with a statement to the effect that it relates to an expunged conviction; or (b) for records that are secondary records 25 held in an electronic format by Victoria Police or the Office of Public Prosecutions, take any necessary steps to do one or more of the following-- (i) remove the entry; 30 (ii) make the entry incapable of being found; (iii) de-identify the information contained in the entry and destroy any link between it and 571557B.I-17/9/2014 17 BILL LC INTRODUCTION 17/9/2014

 


 

Sentencing Amendment (Historical Homosexual Convictions Expungement) Bill 2014 Part 2--Amendment of Sentencing Act 1991 s. 3 information that would identify the person to whom it referred. (4) As soon as reasonably practical after taking action in relation to an entry, the data 5 controller must give notice of the action taken to the Secretary. (5) As soon as reasonably practical after the Secretary is satisfied that all necessary action has been taken in relation to entries in 10 official records, the Secretary must give written notice of that fact to the person who has the expunged conviction. (6) A person who has access to any official records must not, directly or indirectly, 15 disclose or communicate to any person the fact of a conviction, or of a charge related to a conviction, that the person knows, or ought reasonably to have known, is an expunged conviction. 20 Penalty: Level 8 fine (120 penalty units maximum). (7) Subsection (6) does not apply if-- (a) the person who has the expunged conviction gives written consent to the 25 disclosure or communication; or (b) the disclosure or communication is otherwise authorised by law. (8) Subsection (6) does not prevent the Chief Commissioner of Police disclosing to Crim 30 Trac, for incorporation into the police information sharing system known as the National Police Reference System, the fact that a specified conviction has become an expunged conviction. 571557B.I-17/9/2014 18 BILL LC INTRODUCTION 17/9/2014

 


 

Sentencing Amendment (Historical Homosexual Convictions Expungement) Bill 2014 Part 2--Amendment of Sentencing Act 1991 s. 3 105L Jurisdiction of VCAT (1) An eligible person may apply to VCAT for review of the decision of the Secretary on the determination of an application. 5 (2) For the purposes of this section an eligible person is-- (a) for a decision to refuse an application, the applicant; and (b) for a decision to approve an 10 application, a data controller who has any official records relating to the conviction under their management or control. (3) An application for review under 15 subsection (1) must be made within 28 days after the day on which the applicant or the data controller (as the case requires) is given notice of the decision of the Secretary. (4) The applicant is entitled to be given notice of 20 an application for review made under subsection (1) by a data controller. Note See section 72 of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 1998. 25 105M Restriction on right to re-apply (1) A person whose application in respect of a historical homosexual conviction has been refused by the Secretary is only entitled to have a further application in respect of that 30 conviction considered by the Secretary in the circumstances set out in subsection (2). (2) The circumstances are that the Secretary is satisfied that necessary supporting information contained in the further 571557B.I-17/9/2014 19 BILL LC INTRODUCTION 17/9/2014

 


 

Sentencing Amendment (Historical Homosexual Convictions Expungement) Bill 2014 Part 2--Amendment of Sentencing Act 1991 s. 3 application became available only after the earlier application was determined. 105N Delegation (1) Subject to subsection (2), the Secretary, by 5 instrument, may delegate any power conferred on the Secretary by or under this Part, other than this power of delegation, to any person or class of person employed under Part 3 of the Public Administration 10 Act 2004. (2) A delegation of the power of the Secretary under section 105I to determine an application may only be delegated to a person or class of person employed as an 15 executive under Part 3 of the Public Administration Act 2004. 105O Confidentiality (1) A person must not, directly or indirectly, make a record of, or disclose or 20 communicate to any person, any information relating to an application acquired by the person in performing a function or exercising a power under this Part. Penalty: Level 8 fine (120 penalty units 25 maximum). (2) Subsection (1) does not apply if-- (a) it is necessary to make the record, or disclose or communicate the information, for the purposes of, or in 30 connection with, the performance of a function or the exercise of a power under this Part; or 571557B.I-17/9/2014 20 BILL LC INTRODUCTION 17/9/2014

 


 

Sentencing Amendment (Historical Homosexual Convictions Expungement) Bill 2014 Part 2--Amendment of Sentencing Act 1991 s. 3 (b) the person to whom the information relates gives written consent to the making of the record or to the disclosure or communication. 5 (3) Subsection (1) also does not apply to the disclosure or communication of information-- (a) to a court or tribunal in the course of a legal proceeding; or 10 (b) under an order of a court or tribunal; or (c) to a legal practitioner for the purpose of obtaining legal advice or representation; or (d) as required or authorised by or under 15 this Part or any other Act. 105P Giving of notices If by or under this Part a notice is required or permitted to be given by the Secretary to an applicant, the notice may be given to the 20 applicant-- (a) by delivering it personally to the applicant; or (b) by sending it to the applicant at the address given in the application for that 25 purpose. 105Q Evidentiary provisions (1) This section applies to a document purporting to be given by the Secretary or a delegate of the Secretary certifying as to 30 whether an application in respect of a specified historical homosexual conviction was approved or refused. 571557B.I-17/9/2014 21 BILL LC INTRODUCTION 17/9/2014

 


 

Sentencing Amendment (Historical Homosexual Convictions Expungement) Bill 2014 Part 2--Amendment of Sentencing Act 1991 s. 3 (2) The document is admissible in evidence in any proceedings and, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, is proof of the matters stated in the document. 5 (3) The document must be presumed in any proceedings, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, to have been given by the Secretary or a person who was, at that time, a delegate of the Secretary, as the case 10 requires. 105R Immunity (1) The Secretary, a delegate of the Secretary or an employee within the meaning of the Public Administration Act 2004 is not 15 personally liable for anything done or omitted to be done in good faith-- (a) in the carrying out of a function or the exercise of a power under this Part; or (b) in the reasonable belief that the act or 20 omission was in the carrying out of a function or the exercise of a power under this Part. (2) Any liability resulting from an act or omission that, but for subsection (1), would 25 attach to the Secretary, a delegate of the Secretary or an employee within the meaning of the Public Administration Act 2004 attaches instead to the State. 105S No entitlement to compensation 30 (1) A person who has an expunged conviction is not entitled to compensation of any kind, on account of that conviction becoming an expunged conviction, in respect of the fact that the person-- 571557B.I-17/9/2014 22 BILL LC INTRODUCTION 17/9/2014

 


 

Sentencing Amendment (Historical Homosexual Convictions Expungement) Bill 2014 Part 2--Amendment of Sentencing Act 1991 s. 4 (a) was charged with, or prosecuted for, the offence; or (b) was convicted of, or sentenced for, the offence; or 5 (c) served a sentence for the offence; or (d) was required to pay a fine or other money (including costs or any amount by way of restitution or compensation) on account of being convicted of, or 10 sentenced for, the offence; or (e) incurred any loss, or suffered any consequence (including, but not limited to, being sentenced as a serious offender in accordance with Part 2A), 15 as a result of any circumstance referred to in paragraph (a), (b) or (c); or (f) has an expunged conviction. (2) Nothing in subsection (1) prevents a person being entitled to compensation in respect of 20 anything that occurred while the person was serving a sentence. Example The person is injured while serving a sentence in prison. __________________". 25 4 New section 157 inserted At the end of Part 12 of the Sentencing Act 1991 insert-- "157 Transitional provision--Sentencing Amendment (Historical Homosexual 30 Convictions Expungement) Act 2014 This Act, as amended by section 3 of the Sentencing Amendment (Historical Homosexual Convictions Expungement) 571557B.I-17/9/2014 23 BILL LC INTRODUCTION 17/9/2014

 


 

Sentencing Amendment (Historical Homosexual Convictions Expungement) Bill 2014 Part 2--Amendment of Sentencing Act 1991 s. 4 Act 2014, applies to convictions for historical homosexual offences (within the meaning of Part 8) irrespective of when the offences were committed or the convictions 5 were recorded or findings of guilt were made.". __________________ 571557B.I-17/9/2014 24 BILL LC INTRODUCTION 17/9/2014

 


 

Sentencing Amendment (Historical Homosexual Convictions Expungement) Bill 2014 Part 3--Amendment of Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act s. 5 1998 PART 3--AMENDMENT OF VICTORIAN CIVIL AND ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL ACT 1998 5 New Part 18 inserted in Schedule 1 After Part 17 of Schedule 1 to the Victorian Civil See: Act No. 5 and Administrative Tribunal Act 1998 insert-- 53/1998. Reprint No. 9 as at "PART 18--SENTENCING ACT 1991 1 January 2014 78 Application of Part and amending The Part applies in respect of a proceeding Act Nos under Part 8 of the Sentencing Act 1991. 11/2010, 67/2013, 10 79 Constitution of Tribunal 1/2014, 17/2014, 23/2014, The Tribunal is to be constituted by the 37/2014, President or a Vice President. 42/2014, 57/2014, 80 Confidentiality of proceeding 60/2014, 62/2014 and 66/2014. (1) Unless the Tribunal orders otherwise, a LawToday: 15 person must not publish or broadcast, or www. legislation. cause to be published or broadcast, any vic.gov.au report of a proceeding that identifies, or could reasonably lead to the identification of-- 20 (a) a party to the proceeding; or (b) any other person who has given evidence in the proceeding as to-- (i) whether any person involved in the conduct constituting the 25 offence (including the applicant) that is the subject of the proceeding consented to the conduct; or 571557B.I-17/9/2014 25 BILL LC INTRODUCTION 17/9/2014

 


 

Sentencing Amendment (Historical Homosexual Convictions Expungement) Bill 2014 Part 3--Amendment of Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act s. 5 1998 (ii) the ages, or respective ages, of any such persons at the time of that conduct. Penalty: 20 penalty units. 5 (2) The Tribunal may make an order under subclause (1) only if it considers that it would be in the public interest to do so. (3) An order of the Tribunal under subclause (1) must specify that pictures are not to be taken 10 of any party to the proceeding or other person covered by subclause (1)(b). 81 Effect of original decision pending review (1) This clause applies, despite anything to the contrary in section 50, if a data controller 15 (within the meaning of Part 8 of the Sentencing Act 1991) commences a proceeding. (2) The operation of the decision that is the subject of the proceeding is stayed pending 20 the determination by the Tribunal of the proceeding and the expiration of the appeal period. (3) For the purposes of subclause (2) the appeal period expires-- 25 (a) at the end of the period during which an application for leave to appeal from the order of the Tribunal determining the proceeding may be made under Part 5 if an application is not made within that 30 period; or (b) if an application for leave to appeal is made, when that application is determined if leave is not granted; or 571557B.I-17/9/2014 26 BILL LC INTRODUCTION 17/9/2014

 


 

Sentencing Amendment (Historical Homosexual Convictions Expungement) Bill 2014 Part 3--Amendment of Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act s. 5 1998 (c) if leave is granted, at the end of the period during which the appeal may be instituted under Part 5 if an appeal is not instituted within that period; or 5 (d) if an appeal is instituted, when the appeal is determined. 82 Tribunal file not open for inspection Despite anything to the contrary in section 146, the file kept by the principal 10 registrar under that section in a proceeding is not open for inspection or copying by any person.". __________________ 571557B.I-17/9/2014 27 BILL LC INTRODUCTION 17/9/2014

 


 

Sentencing Amendment (Historical Homosexual Convictions Expungement) Bill 2014 Part 4--Repeal of Amending Act s. 6 PART 4--REPEAL OF AMENDING ACT 6 Repeal of amending Act This Act is repealed on 1 September 2016. Note The repeal of this Act does not affect the continuing operation of the amendments made by it (see section 15(1) of the Interpretation of Legislation Act 1984). 571557B.I-17/9/2014 28 BILL LC INTRODUCTION 17/9/2014

 


 

Sentencing Amendment (Historical Homosexual Convictions Expungement) Bill 2014 Endnotes ENDNOTES By Authority. Government Printer for the State of Victoria. 571557B.I-17/9/2014 29 BILL LC INTRODUCTION 17/9/2014

 


 

 


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