IT IS vitally important that the state government gets changes to the legislation governing the Director of Public Prosecutions correct.
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Clear rules around how the DPP is appointed, the tenure and how the person could be removed from the role and for what reasons are needed.
The issue has been under discussion since former DPP Tim Ellis caused a car crash that killed a Launceston woman in 2013.
Currently the appointment of a DPP is for life. They can only be removed under certain provisions such as bankruptcy or the not clearly defined term 'misbehaviour'.
The government committed to limiting the appointment to 10 years and clarifying the dismissal protocol to allow for the DPP to be suspended with reduced or no pay and to be removed by a vote of Parliament.
The Law Society of Tasmania does not agree with several areas, particularly the suspension provisions, and would prefer the tenure to be set at 15 years with a compulsory retirement age of 72, like judges.
The government had intended to bring the changes to Parliament in this week's sittings.
However, Attorney-General Vanessa Goodwin has delayed introducing the amended legislation to allow for more consultation.
While it is disappointing to have further delays and one must question why consultation has taken so long, it is important that any changes introduced are reasonable, workable and welcomed by the legal profession.
It is also fundamental that any changes maintain the independence of the DPP's office and keep it free from political influence.
The office of the DPP is one of the most powerful bodies in the state.
It decides what indictable crimes should be prosecuted based on whether the admissible evidence is reasonably likely to lead to a conviction.
It needs to come to those conclusions without fear or favour, basing each decision on evidence and ignoring potential pressure from the public or politicians.
That is a serious role indeed and if more consultation is needed to get it right, so be it.