C.20 Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Reduction policies and programs

The Office has undertaken a number of changes to address climate change, greenhouse gas emissions and the targets set out in Part 2 of the Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act 2010.

The Office obtained formal accreditation under the ACT Smart Office program during the reporting period. This has enabled us to reduce the amount of waste that was previously being sent to landfill and bring about an awareness of the importance of conserving resources and energy through recycling our waste.

This program includes:

• smart purchasing to reduce waste;
• special bins for food scraps which are sent to a local worm farm;
• staff are encouraged to recycle everyday items such as coffee cups and drink cans; and
• increased paper and cardboard recycling.

The Office has also continued to identify and implement changes within the office to reduce our environmental impact including:

• using paper which has a 75% recycle content;
• turning of computers and lights nightly;
• where possible retaining information electronically rather than in hardcopy to reduce our paper usage;
• recycle used printer cartridges; and
• water saver taps are fitted to office amenities.

While these are small steps in themselves, they all make a positive contribution to reducing overall greenhouse gas emissions.

C.21 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Reporting

The Office does not have clients as such. As noted elsewhere in this report the Office has a key role in the operation of the Galambany Court (Circle Sentencing Court). The operation of the Galambany Court is making a positive difference to the lives of Aboriginal Canberrans.

C.22 ACT Multicultural Strategy 2010–2013

The criminal justice system environment is non-discriminatory and the people who come in contact with it, including witnesses, victims and accused persons are from diverse backgrounds. The Office ensures (in line with the ACT Government’s Multicultural Strategy 2010–2013) that those people have access to a range of services so as to receive fair treatment in the justice system.

The Office uses a range of services to accommodate the needs of people who become involved in matters prosecuted by the Office including the Domestic Violence Crisis Service, the Migrant Resource Centre and the Interpreter Service.

As mentioned elsewhere in this report, the Office’s Witness Assistance Service provides help to victims and vulnerable witnesses. This service caters for people from non-English speaking backgrounds and those who do not have a good understanding of the criminal justice system.