Greg Byrne Email and Phone Number

My website contains detailed information about my career and the legal policy services that I provide.www.gregbyrnelaw.com.au

I provided criminal law policy advice on a range of matters including jury directions, criminal appeals, tendency and coincidence laws and workplace manslaughter.

I provided criminal law legal policy advice on a range of topics. I led legislative reforms on jury directions, sexual offences and a number of criminal procedure matters (eg appeals) and evidentiary issues (eg tendency and coincidence evidence). I wrote and/or was responsible for a number of publicly available departmental papers and reports (eg Jury Directions: A Jury-Centric Approach; Jury Directions: A Jury-Centric Approach Part 2; Crimes Amendment (Sexual Offences) Act 2016: An Introduction). I was the chair of the Jury Directions Advisory Group. The ground breaking jury directions reforms were the culmination of 10 years' work.I represented the Department at roundtables held by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, and I gave evidence to the Royal Commission about Victorian laws and relevant policy challenges.

Criminal Law Review was established with the specific task of delivering important legal reforms to fundamental features of the operation of the criminal justice system. The work involved long-term projects about complex legal issues and processes by consulting with stakeholders and courts in a detailed and respectful manner. Significant reforms included:• the major overhaul of criminal procedure: the Criminal Procedure Act 2009• the ground breaking reforms (first in the common law world) to enable, and support, judges giving jury directions that are as clear, simple, brief and comprehensible as possible: Jury Directions Act 2013 and Jury Directions Act 2015• the overhaul of sexual offences which were failing (there were many successful appeals against conviction and directing the jury had become extremely complicated): Crimes Amendment (Sexual Offences and Other Matters) Act 2014 and Crimes Amendment (Sexual Offences) Act 2016.During this time, I chaired the Criminal Procedure Advisory Group, Jury Directions Advisory Group, the Sexual Offences Advisory Group and the Summary Procedure Steering Group. I was also responsible for a very large implemnentation project, to implement the Criminal Procedure Act 2009 and the Evidence Act 2008, where both Acts commenced on the same day. The project involved criminal justice system stakeholders, courts, civil lawyers, and changes to documentary evidence had significant benefits for business and the Public Records Office.

I managed this unit which had 40-45 people and covered a wide range of criminal and civil law policy issues. I also managed two project teams which established the family violence courts in Melbourne and the Children's Koori Court. My criminal law legislative reform projects included establishing the Sentencing Advisory Council, confiscation reforms and drug law reforms.I was also responsible for providing advice to the Attorney-General and senior departmental executives about current criminal law issues and first law officer responsibilities. I was a witness for the Department in FOI proceedings concerning Heather Osland's application for access to legal advices prepared during consideration of her petition for mercy. Throughout this period I was Victoria's representative on the Model Criminal Code Officers' Committee.

I managed a small team (less than 10). My work involved:• providing advice to Attorneys-General and senior departmental executives about current criminal law issues and first law officer responsibilities • researching, analysing and developing policy proposals to improve criminal laws and the criminal justice system• managing government and stakeholder consultation and reform processes • developing legislation• managing staff, budgets and work.I led the proposals for reform contained in the Crimes (Workplace deaths and Serious Injuries) Bill 2002. I also managed reforms to sentencing laws, investigation powers (eg DNA testing, questioning of suspects in custody) and criminal offences. I was Victoria's representative on the Model Criminal Code Officers' Committee.

My work involved providing advice to Attorneys-General and senior departmental executives about current criminal law issues and first law officer responsibilities. I developed the Confiscation Act 1997 and assisted with several other legislative reforms.I was Victoria's representative on the Model Criminal Code Officers' Committee. I wrote the discussion paper and report on Contamination of Goods.

I worked in the Office of Public Prosecutions for 8 years, and I:• held positions of solicitor and solicitor-advocate • prosecuted a wide variety of indictable offences and some summary offences • appeared in the Supreme, County and Magistrates’ Courts including committal proceedings, summary contests and pleas in the higher courts • appeared at two separate inquests concerning the deaths of two people killed by police officers, and • was the prosecuting solicitor in the first prosecution in Australia of a corporation for a serious indictable offence against the person.