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Victoria’s legal regulators oversee a Public Purpose Fund holding more than $6 billion in assets. By comparison, Western Australia’s equivalent fund holds approximately $14 million.

Victoria prides itself on its Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities. Yet when it comes to legal regulation, the application of those rights is far from clear. The legal profession is regulated under a uniform national scheme that, in effect, limits the application of human rights protections to regulatory action. Practitioners facing prolonged investigations or suspensions often find themselves without meaningful recourse.

Regulation is often discussed in abstract terms — frameworks, powers, governance. What is less frequently acknowledged is the human cost when systems malfunction. In Western Australia, submissions to the parliamentary inquiry described psychological distress, anxiety, depression and, in some cases, suicidal ideation linked to prolonged regulatory action. accounts.

Justice delayed is justice denied — and this principle applies just as strongly to regulation as it does to courts. One of the most consistent concerns raised in Western Australia prior to its parliamentary inquiry was delay. Practising certificates took months to process. Complaints and investigations stretched into years. Communication stalled.

Who Regulates the Regulators? Why Victoria Needs an Independent Inquiry into Legal Oversight