Standing Council on Law and Justice
Standing Council on Law and Justice (SCLJ)
On 17 September 2011, the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General transitioned to the Standing Council on Law and Justice (SCLJ).
SCLJ is one of 12 Standing Councils established under the new Ministerial Council arrangements. Standing Councils are established to:
a) achieve COAG’s strategic themes by pursuing and monitoring priority issues of national significance which require sustained, collaborative effort
b) address key areas of shared Commonwealth, State and Territory responsibility and funding.
SCLJ comprises the Attorneys-General of the Commonwealth and States and Territories, the Western Australian Minister for Corrective Services and the Minister of Justice of New Zealand. The Executive Member for Legal Matters of Norfolk Island has observer status at the meetings. A list of the Ministers who are currently members of SCLJ can be viewed here.
The inaugural meeting of SCLJ was held on 18 November 2011 in Launceston, Tasmania.
The COAG website is www.coag.gov.au
This website is being progressively updated as the new arrangements are implemented. If you have any queries about the information on this website, please contact the SCLJ Executive Officer on (02) 8061 9325.
Standing Committee of Attorneys General (SCAG)
From the early 1960s until 2011, SCAG provided a forum for Attorneys-General to discuss and progress matters of mutual interest.
SCAG successfully developed uniform and model laws to reduce jurisdictional difference and create national systems. Some of the matters developed by SCAG in recent years include:
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uniform defamation laws
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model evidence laws
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national model laws for the legal profession
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model provisions for the enforcement of foreign judgments
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uniform commercial arbitration laws
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legislation to allow for the interstate recognition of apprehended violence orders
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model Crown Proceedings legislation
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referral of corporations power to the Commonwealth (in conjunction with the Ministerial Council on Corporations)
SCAG was also the forum through which Commonwealth, State and Territory Censorship Ministers oversaw the National Classification Scheme, a cooperative arrangement under which the Classification Board classifies films (including videos and DVDs), computer games and certain publications.
The final SCAG meeting was held in Adelaide, South Australia, on 21 & 22 July 2011. Read the Communiqué and Summary of Decisions from that meeting.
SCLJ Projects
Information on SCLJ projects and achievements can be accessed here.