Description

In July 2007, the Chief Justice announced the formation of a taskforce to deal with the rapid number of charges of sexual assault in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. The taskforce’s aim was to ensure sexual assault cases in the Kimberley were dealt with as quickly as possible to minimise disruption to people in remote communities and enable the healing process. In practical terms, the strategy taken by the taskforce was to: bring the right people together, to ensure sufficient action to respond to the high number of police charges affecting indigenous communities in the Kimberley; agree on a way of working together and the information that needed to be shared; review and challenge how existing justice processes, procedures and services are delivered – to make them easier, faster, more relevant and cheaper; reprioritise agency and judicial resources; and track progress and measure achievement. The taskforce operated on an intercollegiate approach, with representatives from all jurisdictions – Magistrates Court, Children’s Court, District Court and Supreme Court – as well as all relevant agencies, including WA Police, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Aboriginal Legal Service, Legal Aid Western Australia, Department of the Attorney General and the Department of Corrective Services. As a result of the taskforce’s leadership, police disclosure processes were simplified, jury trials were minimised, multiple cases were heard in one sitting and the transcription of video record of interview (VRI) and police disclosure was fast-tracked. The purpose of this report is to provide a review of what the taskforce has achieved including: what has worked and not worked; what learnings could be incorporated into common practice; what preparatory work would be needed in the event that the taskforce is reactivated; and consideration of the broader application for what has been done.