The Australian Government's Innovation Report

Clearinghouse-type websites are currently in development to enable
knowledge sharing between those involved in on-the-ground projects and
programmes around Australia about what works to improve justice outcomes
and reduce crime. The websites will encourage open discussion and debate
and the contribution of information about success stories and lessons learned.
Mock courtroom. Photo credits: AIC
Sexual assault mock trials: In January 2005, the AIC was commissioned by
the New South Wales Attorney General’s Department to conduct research
investigating whether adult sexual assault complainant testimony delivered via
pre-recorded videotape or closed circuit television impacts on jury deliberations
and perceptions differently from when such evidence is presented face-toface
in the courtroom.
This research was highly innovative in that it was experimental (allowing a range of factors to be controlled) and
involved 210 members of the public who volunteered to participate as jurors. Professional actors were employed
to enact the roles of the victim, the defence lawyer, the prosecutor, the judge and the accused. Two weeks of
full-time rehearsals were conducted before running the trials.
Jurors sat in a mock courtroom (replicating the layout of a real courtroom) in a jury box and watched a mock trial
take place in which the victim gave testimony and was cross-examined about an alleged sexual assault. A total of
18 trials were conducted, each lasting about one and a quarter hours.
The resulting research found that the mode in which testimony was given had a negligible impact on juror perceptions
of guilt. This indicates that the presentation of evidence via closed circuit television or video will not adversely affect
the trial but remove the need for the victim to go through their testimony again in the presence of the accused.
An important finding was juror confusion as to the exact meaning of consent in sexual assault cases, and the preexisting
attitudes, beliefs and myths about sexual assault that they brought with them into the court room. The
study concluded by suggesting research of a similar scale into these attitudes and their impact on sexual assault
verdicts with a view to identifying means to change incorrect stereotypes through targeted education and
awareness campaigns.
Evaluating face recognition systems: The Defence Science and Technology
Organisation (DSTO) is assisting a number of government agencies to develop biometric
systems that can strengthen their screening and security processes. Trials and evaluation
of such systems for the Australian Customs Service and Department of Immigration and
Multicultural Affairs have been undertaken to improve identity management during
border crossings and to prevent illegal arrivals.
Computer Model
for Face Recognition.
Photo credits: DSTO
DSTO tested the face recognition matching performance of two types of systems in an
operational environment. Following further laboratory trials DSTO devised improvements
that have led to a face recognition system achieving operationally acceptable performance
for verification purposes.
DSTO leads the world in methodologies for evaluating new biometric systems in an operational, real-world setting.
Transformational defence technologies
Smart Patches in aircraft: DSTO has been conducting research over a number of years into bonded composite
patches to reinforce defective aircraft structures.
This is recognised as a very cost-effective repair procedure for many types of structural problems and has
been used by the Australian Defence Force for successful life extension of particular aircraft components.
However an ongoing concern has been the application of this technique to critical components and the
associated certification issues.
118 Backing Australia’s Ability