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Raelene Sharp

[edit]

Raelene Sharp
KC
9th Director of the Office of the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions
Incumbent
Assumed office
4 December 2023 (2023-12-04)
Nominated byMark Dreyfus, attorney-general of Australia
Preceded byHon Justice Sarah McNaughton SC
Career
Personal details
NationalityAustralian
Education
  • LL.M. (Public International Law: International Criminal Law)
  • BA (Linguistics), LL.B
Alma mater
ProfessionLawyer

Raelene Sharp KC is the Director of the Office of the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions [1]. Sharps diverse work has seen her advise and act in domestic and international investigative and regulatory matters, including a two year contract in Lebanon for the United Nations.[2]

Sharpe’s formal qualifications include degrees from Monash University[3], the University of Melbourne[4] and Leiden University[5]. Sharp completed her articles at the Victorian Victorian Office of Public Prosecutions in 2000[6].

Sharp was called to the Victorian Bar in 2010, reading with Mark Rochford QC and Dr Stephen Donaghue QC.[7]Sharp has been awarded an Indictable Crime Certificate[8] and formally took Silk in 2023.[9]

Education

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Career

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Ms. Sharp has over 20 years of experience in both domestic and international legal domains, specialising in criminal law, investigative law and administrative law. After completing her articles, Ms. Sharpe moved to the Netherlands, where she completed

Raelene Sharp's career began as a prosecutor at the Victorian Office of Public Prosecutions (OPP). After two years, Sharp moved to the Netherlands to complete a Master's in public international law, specialising in international criminal law.[11]

Sharp represented Leiden University as an advisor to John Dugard, the Special Rapporteur to the UN Commission on Human Rights on violation of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law. The Special Rapporteur lauded Sharps work on a report into the 'Diplomatic protection of corporations and shareholders'.[12]

Sharp returned to Melbourne and the OPP for a short time before moving to the then Australian Crime Commission (ACC) in 2004.[13] In 2006, Sharp moved to Lebanon to work for the United Nations, investigating the assassination of Rafik Hariri, the former Prime Minister, and a number of other related assassinations. Sharp briefly returned to Australia in 2009 to work for the then Australian Crime Commission (ACC).[a] The ACC appointed her their principal specialist lawyer in 2005.[14]

Raelene Sharp was asked to return to the Middle East as a Special Rapporteur and a member of an independent fact finding commission, commissioned by the Arab League, looking into Israel's "Operation Cast Lead" under the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. The investigation focused on the Israeli operation in December and January of 2009.[15]

Called to the Bar and taking Silk

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Sharp was called to the Victorian Bar in 2010, reading with Mark Rochford QC and Dr Stephen Donaghue QC.[16] Peter Hanks QC was Raelene Sharps senior mentor. Raelene Sharp experience and seniority has now seen her read for applicants seeking to become barristers & being called to the Bar.[17][18][19]

Taking Silk and obtaining the highly prized and coveted title Kings Council/Senior Council,[20] is a process that involves the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria, Anne Ferguson, consulting the heads of over 15 national and state judicial bodies to determine whether a legal professional whose skill, integrity, independence, and standing in the profession justify an expectation on the part of the public and the judiciary that they will provide outstanding services, as counsel, to the administration of justice. This process validated Raelene Sharp as a barrister of eminence and seniority.[21]

Special Investigator

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Sharp has also worked at the Office of the Special Investigator (OSI) – under former CDPP and criminal law guru Mark Weinberg KC. Sharp also worked as counsel assisting the special investigator appointed to investigate possible breaches of the laws of armed conflict allegedly committed by members of the Australian Defence Force in Afghanistan from 2005 to 2016.[22]

Crown Prosecutor

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Raelene Sharp was already experienced in the CDPP prior to being appointed as director, appearing for the CDPP in many complex and sensitive cases.[23] Raelene Sharp was appointed by the CDPP to be the crown prosecutor for the prosecution of a $100M+ tax fraud scheme, which is the largest tax fraud case in Australia’s history.[24]The sensitivity of the fraud prosecution was made far greater owing to the son (Adam) and daughter (Lauren) of the ATO deputy commissioner Michael Cranston being charged and convicted for their roles in the conspiracy.[25]Adam and Lauren received eight and five year sentences each.[26][27]The investigation and prosecution of the conspiracy syndicate resulted in seven guilty pleas & seven found guilty at trial.[26]

Sharp sits on the Criminal Justice Law Enforcement Forum, the Serious Financial Crime Taskforce.[28] and the Commonwealth Association of Directors. She meets regularly with the heads of Commonwealth law enforcement agencies, National Legal Aid.[29] and the various partner agencies who refer matters for prosecution to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (CDPP).

Notes

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  1. ^ Now the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC)

References

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  1. ^ "Appointment of new Auditor-General for Australia | Prime Minister of Australia". www.pm.gov.au. 1 August 2024. Archived from the original on 4 December 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  2. ^ Government, Women in (12 June 2016). "Women in Government Conference" (PDF). Women in Government: Tackling Sexism, Sexual Harassment and Gender Discrimination in the Workplace. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 March 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  3. ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  4. ^ a b Dreyfus, Mark (14 November 2023). "Appointment of the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions". Attorney-General Media centre. Archived from the original on 19 October 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  5. ^ Prosecutors, International Association (9 May 2024). "International Association of Prosecutors (IAP) Conference Keynote Speakers" (PDF). KEYNOTE CLOSING SPEAKER: Raelene Sharp KC, Director of Public Prosecutions, Commonwealth, Australia. Retrieved 11 December 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ Australia, Headnote. "New Commonweath DPP announced - 15 Nov 2023". Headnote. Archived from the original on 24 October 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  7. ^ Coade, Melissa (14 November 2023). "Ex-mandarin Raelene Sharp to be appointed Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions". The Mandarin. Archived from the original on 14 November 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  8. ^ "Victorian barrister appointed as new Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions". www.thelawyermag.com. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  9. ^ Bar, The Victorian (3 November 2022). "The Victorian Bar". The Victorian Bar welcomes the appointment of 23 new Senior Counsel. Retrieved 11 December 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  10. ^ Sharp, Raelene (December 2023). "Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions". Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions. Archived from the original on 14 October 2024. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
  11. ^ a b Prosecutors, International Association (9 May 2024). "International Association of Prosecutors (IAP) Conference Keynote Speakers" (PDF). KEYNOTE CLOSING SPEAKER: Raelene Sharp KC, Director of Public Prosecutions, Commonwealth, Australia. Retrieved 11 December 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ Duggan, Professor John (6 June 2003). "United Nations International Law Commission: Yearbook for each session of the International Law Commission: 2003 (Volume 2)". United Nations International Law Commission. Retrieved 12 December 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ^ Dreyfus, Mark (14 November 2023). "Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions". CDPP: News and Media Releases - New Director appointed. Archived from the original on 14 October 2024. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  14. ^ Parliamentary Joint Statutory Committee on the Australian Crime Commission (June 2004) [Tabled 24 August 2005]. Inquiry into Trafficking of Women for Sexual Servitude (Report). p. 5. ISBN 0-642-71405-3. Commonwealth of Australia. Archived from the original on 7 December 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2024. Government response to report Archived 23 July 2024 at the Wayback Machine tabled 9 November 2006
  15. ^ Moussa, Amre (12 May 2009). ""Letter dated 12 May 2009 from the Permanent Observer of the League of Arab States addressed to the President of the Security Council"" (PDF). Report of the Independent Fact-Finding Committee On Gaza: United Nations Security Council (S/2009/244). p. 2. Retrieved 11 December 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ^ Coade, Melissa (14 November 2023). "Ex-mandarin Raelene Sharp to be appointed Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions". The Mandarin. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  17. ^ Reardon, Michael (20 October 2022). "Victorian Bar Barristers: Michael Reardon". Victorian Bar. Retrieved 7 December 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  18. ^ Thomas, Simon (22 October 2022). "Victorian Bar Barristers: Simon Thomas". Victorian Bar. Retrieved 7 December 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. ^ McInnes, Kylie (5 May 2022). "Victorian Bar Barristers: Kylie McInnes". Victorian Bar. Retrieved 7 December 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  20. ^ Lawyer, Mohammad Khan | Criminal Defence (12 November 2022). "King's Counsel, Queen's Counsel, and Senior Counsel in Australia | Lyons Law Group". Criminal & Traffic Lawyers Sydney | Sydney Criminal Lawyers. Archived from the original on 25 May 2024. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  21. ^ Association, Australian Bar (8 December 2024). "Australian Bar Association#: What is a KC or SC?". Australian Bar Association. Archived from the original on 4 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  22. ^ "Protection for judges, but no tax relief". Australian Financial Review. 15 November 2023. Archived from the original on 14 June 2024. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  23. ^ Johnson, Chris. "A-G appoints new Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions". PS News. Archived from the original on 3 December 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  24. ^ "Dirty Deeds: Inside Australia's Biggest Tax Scam". www.abc.net.au. 26 June 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  25. ^ "Son of former ATO deputy commissioner found guilty over role in $105m tax fraud". ABC News. 7 March 2023. Archived from the original on 26 September 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  26. ^ a b (Australian Taxation Office), ATO (18 September 2024). "Operation Elbrus". Australian Taxation Office. Archived from the original on 14 July 2024. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  27. ^ "Lauren Cranston jailed for eight years over one of Australia's biggest tax frauds". ABC News. 1 May 2023. Archived from the original on 7 December 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  28. ^ Sharpe, Raelene. "Serious Financial Crime Taskforce". www.ato.gov.au. Archived from the original on 3 December 2024. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
  29. ^ "Home". National Legal Aid. Archived from the original on 30 November 2024. Retrieved 24 November 2024.

 This article incorporates text by www.cdpp.gov.au available under the CC BY 3.0 AU licence.

Legal offices
Preceded by Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions
2023– 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
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