Victoria’s committal process has been significantly reformed as of December 2025, with full implementation of the new process coming earlier this year. These reforms have ultimately changed the priorities of the Magistrates’ Court (MCV) during commitals, shifting what...
The Children, Youth and Families Amendment (Stability) Bill 2026 (Vic) introduces a number of reforms that reshape how Victoria’s child protection system plans cases and handles family reunification orders, seeking the best interests for children in out-of-home care....
By Fulvio Biondi What are Threats to Kill? "Threats to Kill" is found under s20 of the Crimes Act 1958 and is stated as follows: A person who, without lawful excuse, makes to another person a threat to kill that other person or any other person — (a) intending that...
Information For Self Represented Individuals If you are going to court you may already have thought about whether you want to represent yourself or whether you will engage in professional legal representation. Let’s start off by discussing the advantages of self...
If you are convicted of certain serious driving offences then the police or court may impound, immobilise or forfeit your car. Depending on the type of offence and you circumstances you will be placed into either one of the tiers of offences that have motor vehicle...
When you are charged with an offence and plead guilty you receive a penalty contained in the Sentencing Act 1991 (Vic) ('sentencing act') The purpose of the sentencing act is so that there is transparency in sentencing offenders. So that there are fair procedures in...
Committal hearings are only conducted in particular circumstances that are governed by section 96 of the Criminal Procedure Act. If you have been given notice that a committal hearing will be conducted or are unsure whether this process applies to you, contact your...
The purpose of the Major Crime (Investigative Powers) Act 2004 (MCIP Act) is to structure and provide a system for properly authorising and oversight of coercive powers that can be used to investigate and prosecute organised crime offences and to target, specifically,...
The current laws as they stand, pursuant to Section 4 of the Open Courts Act 2013 (‘Open Courts Act’), support the presumption of open justice and the disclosure of information in our legal system. However a court can make an order that restricts or prohibits the...
FAMILY LAW – PARENTING/CHILD ACCESS ORDERS To many of you with children, the pertinent question that arises with a separation in a marriage or de-facto, is who the child will go to; and whether you as a parent are entitled to them solely. The Family Law Act 1975 deals...