Our submission on the right to silence

28/09/2012

Advocacy

The New South Wales Bar Association has made its submission on the proposed amendments to the Evidence Act 1995 relating to the right to silence The association urges the government to abandon the proposal and concludes: "There is no demonstrated need for the curtailment of the right to silence. There is no evidence that the proposed amendments will affect the rate at which defendants plead guilty, or are convicted. The experience of the English legal system is that this proposal will lead to 'a notorious minefield'.� View the Bar Association's submission> 28 September 2012