Progress on an independent Police Complaints Authority?

The government has suggested that it might finally pass the Independent Police Complaints Authority Amendment Bill. About bloody time! The bill would make the Police Complaints Authority truly independent, giving it the resources to properly investigate police misconduct rather than having to rely on police to "investigate" their mates. Unfortunately, its been on hold for almost three years, languishing at the bottom of the Order Paper while waiting for the current commission of inquiry into historic allegations of police rape to wrap up. But while the findings of that inquiry would be useful, the fundamental problem - that of police investigating their own - is pressing enough that it should be resolved sooner rather than later.

And OTOH, I'm not sure how much faith we should put in this. Back in May 2005, when the bill finally received its second reading (having sat around waiting for it since November 2003), then-Justice Minister Phil Goff said that "we have now decided to proceed with it at this time". It's been over a year since then, during which the bill has gone precisely nowhere. So forgive me if I wait until I see the bill actually before the House again before applauding...