Chris Ellison (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Justice and Customs) Share this | Hansard source

The advice I have is that the forensic procedures changes were not as a result of the Aboriginal deaths in custody inquiry, which was in fact some years ago now. DNA was not really such a major consideration then as it is now, so they were not as a result of that. The forensic procedures bill is based on the Model Forensic Procedures Bill. As such, the safeguards are there. This bill does not change that. I think it is essential that we remember that there are safeguards; it is not as if we are just throwing them away. To answer Senator Ludwig’s question, my advice is that these forensic procedures were not as a result of that Aboriginal deaths in custody inquiry.