VLRC

Question 1

Role of VLRC

Answer 1

1. A Government agency
2. Make recommendations to Parliament on major areas of law
   reform referred to them by the Attorney-General

So VLRC cannot investigate these areas of major law
reform without first being asked by the Attorney General
(fancy name for State Govt minister for law)

3. Make recommendations to Parliament on minor areas of law
   reform

VLRC can look at these smaller topics whenever they
want, VLRC does not have to wait for a referral

Question 2

key notes about VLRC

Answer 2

Critical point – the VLRC cannot change the law –
it can only make recommendations to Parliament
about how the law should change

A recommendation is a suggestion – it is not an
order; it does not have to be followed – so the
Victorian Parliament does not have to listen to the
advice from the VLRC. It usually does, but it can
choose not to listen

Question 3

Process used by VLRC

Answer 3

1. Attorney general sends an issue about a major law reform to to VLRC
2. VLRC does its research- it collects info and opinions
3. VLRC completes its research and reports its recommendations back to the AG
4. AG shares the VLRC report in parliament and the government decides wether to change the law.

Question 4

The critical part of the second step

Answer 4

The VLRC collects information, talks to experts and the public reviews statistics and checks out how things are done in other places.
(It is like one big research project that takes months)

Question 5

Example – medicinal cannabis

Answer 5

Other parts of the world were beginning to relax
rules around this area.

Additionally, medical research was highlighting the
benefits to health through the treatment of
medicinal cannabis.

As it stood, it was an area in Victoria that needed
addressing.