CDPP 25th Anniversary
6 March 2009
The Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions, Chris Craigie SC has announced that the Office celebrated its 25th Anniversary on 5 March 2009, saying:
“In establishing the Office of the DPP, the Commonwealth Parliament recognised the fundamental importance to the criminal justice system of an independent and effective prosecuting service, a service capable of prosecuting the most complex matters.
The Commonwealth through successive Governments has, for 25 years, remained committed to the crucial principle of independence upon which the Office was founded.
The vision of the Office is that it strives to provide an effective national prosecution service for the Australian Community. Its purpose is to provide an ethical, high quality and independent prosecution service for Australia in accordance with the Prosecution Policy of the Commonwealth.
I am confident the Office of the Commonwealth DPP is in an excellent position to meet the challenges of prosecuting in the 21st Century on behalf of the Australian community.
It is appropriate for me to thank our current Attorney and all the Commonwealth Attorneys over the CDPP’s history for their commitment to the independence of the CDPP and their support for the work of the Office.
I pay tribute to each of my predecessor Directors of Public Prosecutions. Each has contributed in establishing, building, maintaining and operating the Office as a truly national prosecuting entity across the Commonwealth. A tremendous contribution has been made by each Director, from the first, Ian Temby QC, the Honourable Justice Mark Weinberg, His Honour Chief Judge Michael Rozenes, the Honourable Chief Justice Brian Martin, and Damian Bugg QC.
We celebrate the commitment and dedication exemplified by the staff of the Office, past and present. An effective prosecution service makes a strong contribution to a fair, safe and just society where laws are respected and the confidence of the public in the criminal justice system is maintained. My Office makes such a contribution and the CDPP’s strength to continue that contribution consists of its people, committed to the principles upon which the Office was founded.
The CDPP celebrates the commitment that has been made by so many to establishing and developing this important national institution.”
A full text of the Director’s remarks is available at www.cdpp.gov.au.
See also:
25 Years of Commitment (C. Craigie)
A Brief History of the CDPP (J. Hinchcliffe)