Ian Gray AM to Chair Community Safety Roundtable next month

A long-time Port Phillip resident, Ian brings extensive experience in the legal, justice, and community sectors. He served as Victoria’s Chief Magistrate, a County Court Judge, and State Coroner. In 2021 he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his significant contributions to law and Indigenous justice. He is also an Adjunct Professor at Victoria University. 

Ian has been a tireless advocate for social justice throughout his career, holding key roles in legal and community services. He: 

• completed a Bachelor of Laws at Monash University and admitted to the bar of the High Court of Australia and the Supreme Courts of Victoria and the Northern Territory
• practiced as a solicitor in a Community Legal Service and the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service before working as a barrister specialising in criminal defence
• served as a magistrate in the Northern Territory and later as Chief Magistrate, where he opposed mandatory sentencing policies and addressed the first euthanasia case under the NT Rights of the Terminally Ill Act 1995
• served on the National Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation (1995 to 1997)
• led the Land and Property Unit for the United Nations in East Timor (2000), where he contributed to land law development and dispute resolution in the post-conflict nation
• championed transparency and reform in his senior judicial roles in Victoria as Chief Magistrate, a County Court Judge, and State Coroner, including the introduction of live filming in court cases.

With his deep commitment to community-focused work, Ian is well-placed to lead the Port Phillip community safety roundtable, which will bring together key stakeholders - including City of Port Phillip, Victoria Police, community legal services, health and housing providers, and social service organisations - to assess current challenges and explore place-based models for improving safety in high streets and surrounding areas. 

The purpose of the community safety roundtable is to:  

• review best-practice community outreach models from other jurisdictions and explore opportunities to strengthen community safety in the City of Port Phillip
• examine the role of local laws in protecting public spaces and consider police protocols and operations - such as those implemented by City of Melbourne - and their relevance to Port Phillip
• assess the feasibility of establishing an ongoing alliance to continue this work over the next four years
• provide short- and long-term recommendations to the Council to improve safety and public amenity.

Port Phillip Council Mayor Louise Crawford said: 

“Ian Gray AM is known as a reformer, bringing in major changes during his 11 years as Victorian Chief Magistrate and three years as State Coroner. He is also a long-term St Kilda resident. His knowledge and extensive experience, engaging with people from a wide range of backgrounds on many different and complex issues, makes him an ideal person to take on the important role of Chair of the roundtable. City of Port Phillip looks forward to working with Ian and all stakeholders.”