Victorian plan to scrap civil juries

By Alex Cooper

MELBOURNE -- The Kennett government is considering plans to scrap juries in civil cases. Draft legislation has been produced by the attorney general's department and will be considered by the government's Scrutiny of Bills Committee on August 17.

Under the proposed legislation the only civil actions exempt would be defamation and malicious prosecution. Among actions affected will be medical negligence, product liabillity, asbestos claims, industrial and work injuries, medically acquired HIV and Transport Accident Commission common law claims.

It is suspected, however, that the government's real target with the move is Workcover claims, and a reduction of the payouts awarded by juries in Workcover cases.

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