Media notes - Meritorious

PUBLIC SERVICE MEDAL (PSM)
South Australia
Ms Pauline Mary BARNETT, 43 Leslie Street East, Woodville SA 5011
For outstanding public service in the provision of legal advice and reform in the
criminal justice system.
Ms Barnett joined the South Australian Public Service as a law graduate in 1985. She has
had a long career as a senior public service lawyer and is highly regarded by the judiciary
through her work in the Crown Solicitor's Office, the Attorney-General's Office and the Office
of the Director of Public Prosecutions. Ms Barnett has shown outstanding leadership in
making difficult decisions and giving frank and fearless advice. She is an excellent role model
for women in the law, while mentoring and promoting the careers of other public service
leaders and senior people in the law. Ms Barnett has been a strong advocate for change
within the Public Service and has driven a number of reforms that have shaped the conduct
of criminal prosecution work in South Australia. She has had significant responsibility for
matters where the alleged crime has been committed by the mentally ill. In this difficult area
of criminal law, where matters are commonly protracted and where achieving good outcomes
requires great legal skill but also sound judgement, sensitivity and courage, Ms Barnett has
excelled. She has driven programs to educate staff of the Office of the Director of Public
Prosecutions and has dealt personally with countless victims of crime. She has also driven
significant internal change and has been responsible for developing key performance
indicators, re-modelling the governance framework, reviewing work practices and
representing the Office on many working parties involved in criminal justice reform.
Ms Barnett is held in equally high esteem by her professional colleagues, client groups,
victims of crime and administrative staff and continues to be a credit to the public face and
administration of the criminal justice system in South Australia.
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