Letter of Transmission
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Letter of transmission The Honourable Rod Welford, MP Attorney-General and Minister for Justice State Law Building 50 Ann Street Brisbane Qld 4000 Dear Mr Attorney It gives me great pleasure to present to you for tabling in the Legislative Assembly, the Annual Report of the Department of Justice and Attorney-General for the financial year ended 30 June 2003, as required by the Financial Administration and Audit Act 1977 and Public Service Act 1996. The report meets all the requirements for annual reports that are prescribed by the relevant legislation and Government policy and provides a clear, accurate picture of the Department’s performance against our five strategic goals. I commend the report to you. Yours sincerely Dr K S Levy, RFD Director-General Department of Justice and Attorney-General Annual Report 2002-2003 1 Table of contents Portfolio overview 3 Director-General’s report 4 Highlights 8 Financial snapshot 11 Our vision Mission and values 17 Business profile 18 Our leadership Corporate governance 25 Senior executive 26 Internal controls 37 Internal audit report 40 Our people Organisation and people development 45 Community engagement 53 Indigenous initiatives 54 Multicultural services 57 Freedom of information and privacy 58 Communication and educational activities 60 Justice research 60 Awards 61 Workplace health and safety 62 Energy and waste management 63 Our performance Strategic goals 1: Modernise the justice system 67 2: Protect the rights of consumers of legal services 73 3: Advance people’s rights 76 4: Ensure that our laws reflect community values 85 5: Build safer and more supportive communities 88 Appendices Contents 95 Glossary 122 Our finances 125 Where to find us 126 2 Department of Justice and Attorney-General Annual Report 2002-2003 Portfolio overview The portfolio of the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice consists of a group of government and statutory bodies and individual statutory appointments. The Attorney-General is the State’s first law officer and a member of Cabinet. The Attorney-General’s functions and powers are set out in the Attorney-General Act 1999. As the State’s first law officer, the Attorney-General may start and oversee litigation for the State, the Governor, a Minister or person suing or being sued on behalf of the State. He also acts as the guardian of the public interest, and therefore must balance conflicting private and collective interests. The Attorney-General provides legal advice to Cabinet and the Executive Council and advises the Executive Council on judicial appointments. His role also enables him to initiate or terminate criminal proceedings, advise on the exercise of the prerogative of mercy, grant immunities from prosecution and appear before a court personally to help counsel or the court in appropriate cases. The role of the Minister for Justice, like that of other Ministers, involves responsibility for the development and implementation of legislation and policy – in this case, dealing with the maintenance of the legal system in this State. The Minister is responsible for the administration of legislation for a range of bodies and statutory appointments including: •Adult Guardian • Land and Resources Tribunal • Anti-Discrimination • Law Reform Commission Commission, Queensland • Legal Aid Board • Anti-Discrimination Tribunal • Legal Aid Queensland •Appeal Costs Board • Legal Ombudsman • Barristers’ Board • Public Advocate • Children Services Tribunal • Public Trustee of Queensland • Council of the Queensland • Public Trust Office Law Society Incorporated Investment Board •Director (and Deputy Director) • Queensland Law Society of Public Prosecutions Grants Committee • Dispute Resolution Centres Council • Registrar-General of Births, •Electoral Commission Deaths and Marriages of Queensland • Salaries and Allowances Tribunal • Gas Appeals Tribunal •Solicitor-General • Guardianship and Administration • Solicitors’ Board Tribunal • Solicitors Complaints Tribunal • Justices of the Peace •State Coroner Advisory Council • Supreme Court Library Committee These bodies/statutory authorities prepare their own annual reports. Annual reports are also prepared by the Supreme Court of Queensland, District Court of Queensland, Magistrates Courts of Queensland and Children’s Court of Queensland. A Freedom of Information Annual Report is also prepared. The financial affairs of those bodies/statutory authorities have been included in the Department of Justice and Attorney-General’s general purpose financial statements contained in the financial section of this report. In addition to the financial transactions included in the Department’s accounts, the Queensland Law Society pays part of the Legal Ombudsman’s costs. Department of Justice and Attorney-General Annual Report 2002-2003 3 Director-General’s report The past year has been a significant one for both the Department of Justice and Attorney- General and Queensland’s justice system. Our Department played an integral role in modernising the justice system and the laws which govern our daily lives and prepared the ground for some significant changes to the way the legal profession is regulated. We have also implemented the Government’s election commitments to expand the Drug Court program to North Queensland, where a trial started in Cairns and Townsville in late 2002, and building new or improved courthouses for Mackay and Richlands, where construction has begun. This Annual Report provides a comprehensive report card on our performance against the Department’s Strategic Plan 2002-2006 and our commitment to achieving the State Government’s priorities and delivering justice services for all Queenslanders. Reforming our laws It has been a year of substantial law reform in Queensland. Many of these reforms were in response to the changing social environment and needs of our clients, others are designed to help the justice system function more efficiently and effectively. One of the most significant reforms was the overhauling of the coronial system, resulting in the creation of an Office of the State Coroner and the appointment of Queensland’s first State Coroner. The Department was integral in the development and reform of legislation which affects many people’s daily lives, such as laws to recognise the legal rights of people in de facto relationships, outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation and protect volunteers, community and sporting organisations and professionals from civil liability claims and rising insurance premiums. Introduction of powers for law enforcement agencies to seize the proceeds of crime, the protection of child victims when giving evidence and the review of child sex abuse laws were also among the issues with which the Department was involved. 4 Department of Justice and Attorney-General Annual Report 2002-2003 Modernising our courts The Department remains committed to modernising our courts to provide state-of-the-art facilities and access to justice in communities throughout Queensland. In addition to the projects under way at Mackay and Richlands, work also began on the new Brisbane Magistrates Court, a facility which will increase access to the latest facilities, services and technology. In addition, renovation of courthouses or construction of new facilities is planned or has commenced at Caloundra, Cooktown, Hervey Bay and Thursday Island. The Department continues to expand advanced information technology and facilities such as video conferencing and closed circuit television into courthouses across the State. The development and implementation of new technology enables us to improve our efficiency and reduce costs while improving services to the community. Improving quality of life Our Department is integral in providing services and implementing initiatives which enhance the quality of life for individuals and the broader community. The expansion of the Drug Court pilot to Townsville and Cairns, following its success in Beenleigh, Ipswich and Southport, provides people with substance abuse problems with an alternative to jail and an opportunity to undergo rehabilitation to reform their lives. The Community Visitor Program, coordinated by the Office of the Adult Guardian, built on the successes of its first year of operation. The program expanded its scope, allowing it to help prevent abuse, neglect and exploitation of additional adults with impaired decision- making capacity. Organisational change There were a number of structural changes within the Department during the past year designed to improve our operations and efficiency. These ultimately enable us to achieve superior performance and better meet the evolving needs of our stakeholders and the broader community. One example is the Research and Executive Services group, created to allow those areas of the Department primarily concerned with research, policy development, corporate planning, communications and external scanning to foster closer working relationships and a sharper focus on our long-term strategic direction. The Land Court and Land Tribunal Registry also became part of the Department, moving across from the Department of Natural Resources and Mines in January. Strengthening ties with Woorabinda On a personal note, my involvement with the people of Woorabinda through my role as “Government champion” for their community under the Meeting Challenges, Making Choices initiative has been very productive and rewarding. Department of Justice and Attorney-General Annual Report 2002-2003 5 I had the opportunity to