Pat O'Shane
Encyclopedia
Patricia June O'Shane (born 19 June 1941) is a magistrate of the Local Court of New South Wales
living in Sydney
, Australia
. A former head of the New South Wales Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs
, and Aboriginal herself, O'Shane was appointed a magistrate in 1986. She normally sits at the Downing Centre Local Court.
She was elected to the Australian Constitutional Convention 1998
which considered the issue of Australia becoming a republic. She advocated strongly for an Australian republic. In her opening address expressed a desire for change based on what she perceived as historical injustice and present inadequacies within the Australian Constitution:
Local Court of New South Wales
There are over 160 Local Courts in New South Wales. Local Court cases are heard by a magistrate without a jury. It hears summary offences as well as indictable offences and committal hearings. It hears civil claims up to $100,000 and has a Small Claims Division for claims less than $10,000. It...
living in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. A former head of the New South Wales Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs
New South Wales Department of Aboriginal Affairs
The New South Wales Department of Aboriginal Affairs is a department of the Government of New South Wales that is responsible for administering legislation in relation to NSW's policies that support indigenous Australians and advising the Minister for Citizenship, Communities and Aboriginal...
, and Aboriginal herself, O'Shane was appointed a magistrate in 1986. She normally sits at the Downing Centre Local Court.
She was elected to the Australian Constitutional Convention 1998
Australian Constitutional Convention 1998
The Australian Constitutional Convention 1998 was a Constitutional Convention which gathered at Old Parliament House, Canberra from 2–13 February 1998. It was called by the Howard Government to discuss whether Australia should become a republic...
which considered the issue of Australia becoming a republic. She advocated strongly for an Australian republic. In her opening address expressed a desire for change based on what she perceived as historical injustice and present inadequacies within the Australian Constitution: