20 February 2014

Victorian Mental Health Law

In Victoria the Mental Health Bill 2014 (Vic) is past the first reading stage.

In summary the Bill is for an Act to provide a legislative scheme for the treatment of persons with mental illness, to repeal the Mental Health Act 1986 (Vic), to make consequential amendments to the Sentencing Act 1991 (Vic), the Crimes (Mental Impairment and Unfitness to be Tried) Act 1997 (Vic) and other Acts and for other purposes.

Its specific purposes are -
(a) to provide a legislative scheme for the assessment of persons who appear to have mental illness and for the treatment of persons with mental illness; and 
(b) to provide for the appointment of the chief psychiatrist; and 
(c) to establish the Mental Health Tribunal; and 
(d) to establish the Mental Health Complaints Commissioner; and 
(e) to continue the Victorian Institute of Forensic Mental Health; and 
(f) to provide for the appointment and functions of community visitors; and 
(g) to repeal the Mental Health Act 1986; and 
(h) to amend the Sentencing Act 1991 and the Crimes (Mental Impairment and Unfitness to be Tried) Act 1997; and 
(i) to make consequential and statute law amendments to other Acts.
In the Northern Territory the Criminal Code Amendment (Expert Psychiatric or Medical Evidence) Bill 2013 (NT) has been read a third time, passed all stages and is awaiting assent