SCAG drafting a Model Bill on spent convictions

07/11/2008

The Standing Committee of Attorneys-General is working on a uniform spent convictions scheme, which provides that certain convictions do not generally need to be disclosed after the offender completes a qualifying period of crime-free behaviour. Victorian Deputy Premier and Attorney-General Rob Hulls is calling for community input into�the national proposal.

Mr Hulls said a draft Model Bill for the proposed national scheme would mean a spent conviction may no longer be relevant for someone seeking accommodation or employment but would still be relevant in certain circumstances, such as those relating to national security, and applications for some professions that require a character test, such as policing.

Under the proposed national scheme, serious sexual offences would never be able to become spent.

7 November 2008