The full response from the Honourable Jing Lee MLC can be accessed here, or click through the below accordions for the response to specific issues.
I strongly support the Society’s position on implementing the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence. While I am calling for investment by the Government to begin work on all 136 recommendations, I also support the immediate implementation of work to establish vulnerable witness suites in the metropolitan and regional South Australia. The development of domestic, family and sexual violence safety standards for court infrastructure and capital works to meet these standards is also necessary to ensure safe and equitable access to our justice system for victim-survivors.
As a champion of multiculturalism and diversity in South Australia, I strongly support the Society’s call for increased funding to train and support interpreters and translators arranged by Courts. Due to the complexity and specific vocabulary required for court interpreting, it is essential that interpreters and translators are adequately resourced and trained to support clients from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Additional resourcing for interpreters is particularly critical for smaller language groups, which often face disadvantages due to the limited availability of qualified translators. This lack of resources can also compromise confidentiality, especially in close-knit communities where interpreters and clients may be personally acquainted.
I strongly support legislative reform that aligns with the pillars of Jing Lee – Better Community and contributes to building a Better Community, Safer Society, and Stronger Economy.
I welcome the findings of the Social Development Committee’s report that recommended consolidating the various rights and protection across South Australia’s legislative instruments into one comprehensive Human Rights Act. The Equal Opportunity Act has not been reviewed since its enactment in 1984, and the Equal Opportunity Commission is limited in its powers, only able to act on complaints where discrimination has occurred within set limited contexts and under a limited range of circumstances.
Transitioning the Equal Opportunities Commission to a Human Rights Commission would modernise and greatly strengthen human rights protections in South Australia and bring our State in line with other jurisdictions such as Victoria, the ACT and Queensland.
I strongly support the Law Society’s calls for a fairer Victims of Crime compensation scheme. I recently spoke in support of an amendment Bill that would have ensured victims receive the full compensation they are entitled to and would have increased the cap on costs for legal representation. Increasing the cap on legal costs to $2,500 indexed would remove a barrier to legal representation and encourage more lawyers to take on victims of crime compensation cases, particularly in regional areas where victims often lack access to legal advice.
Fair compensation and legal support help victims recover, reducing disadvantage and breaking cycles of vulnerability and crime. By removing barriers and ensuring victims are supported, we build trust in our justice system, encourage reporting and create safer and more resilient communities.
I strongly support increased and sustained investment in youth diversionary programs and early intervention programs designed to keep young people out of the criminal justice system and out of youth detention.
In speaking on recent legislation addressing youth justice issues, I have repeatedly called on the Government to ensure that adequate safeguards and additional investment in support services and early intervention strategies are implemented. This is vital to help prevent vulnerable and disadvantaged young people from being trapped in a cycle of criminality.
I have also acknowledged in Parliament the tremendous work done by the African Communities Council of South Australia which has worked extensively with government agencies and non-government providers to address youth crime and harmful behaviours within our diverse African communities. ACCSA's inquiry into causes, challenges and potential solutions to violence and antisocial behaviours committed by African South Australian youth, and its proactive and culturally sensitive approach to the complex issues in this space can serve as a model for collaboration and community engagement.
Whether in the city, suburbs, or regions, I strongly believe that every South Australian has the right to feel heard, valued, and respected. Access to essential services, such as legal advice and legal assistance funding, is critical to preventing disadvantaged and vulnerable people in regional south Australia from being further marginalised within the justice system.
I strongly support the Law Society’s call for greater investment in legal aid and legal assistance in regional, remote and rural areas to ensure that practitioners can provide in-person appointments with vulnerable clients, community legal centres can attract staff and implement adequate training to handle complex matters, and ensure that the legal needs of First Nations people in regional and remote areas are met.
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