Hon. Sally Talbot asks the Attorney General about awareness of an AHRC report on disability and equality before the law, specifically regarding uniform evidence laws. The Attorney General acknowledges the report but clarifies it doesn't call for WA to adopt uniform evidence laws, citing existing WA legislation.

AnsweredQoN 44Legislative Council
Asked
19 February 2014
Portfolio
Attorney General

QuestionView source ↗

AUSTRALIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION REPORT —
DISABILITY — EVIDENCE LAWS
44. Hon SALLY TALBOT to the
Attorney General:
(1) Is the
Attorney General aware of a recent Australian Human Rights Commission report
that shows that people with disabilities who are the victims of a crime,
accused of a crime or a witness to a crime do not enjoy equality before the
law?
(2) If yes to
(1), did the Attorney General note the call for Western Australia to adopt
uniform evidence laws to remove some of the barriers to equality?
(3) Does the Attorney General intend to adopt these laws;
and, if not, why not?
(4) If yes to (3), when?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for some notice of the
question.
(1) Yes.
(2) The
Australian Human Rights Commission report ''Equal Before the Law:
Towards Disability Justice Strategies'' does not call for Western Australia
to adopt uniform evidence laws. The report acknowledges that Western Australia
has its own legislation that addresses barriers to access to justice for people
with disability.
(3) No. See answer (2).
(4) Not applicable.

Explore WA Government Data

Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.

Explore more