Daryl Coates SC has been appointed Tasmania’s Director of Public Prosecutions.
Mr Coates is a highly respected member of the Tasmanian and Australian legal profession. He brings to the role extensive experience in prosecuting both complex and sensitive matters, along with a comprehensive and expert knowledge in the law.
He has been acting in this role for over two years during a difficult period for the office and has displayed outstanding leadership skills throughout that time.
Mr Coates was admitted as a legal practitioner in 1986, before employed as a Crown Counsel during the same year. In 2003, Mr Coates was appointed as a Senior Counsel, and became Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions in 2004. He has been Acting Director of Public Prosecutions since 2013.
The position of Director of Public Prosecutions is central to the administration of the criminal justice system in Tasmania.
The DPP undertakes the conduct of all criminal prosecutions on indictment in the Supreme Court, and in Magistrates Courts where required. They also represent the Crown in appeals to the Court of Criminal Appeal and the High Court, and represent Government agencies in various matters.
Earlier this year the Government amended the Director of Public Prosecutions act to replace the previous lifetime appointment with ten-year terms.
This change modernised our Act and brought us into line with the majority of other states, which have a fixed term of appointment.