Complaints Against Police (ALRC 1) and
Complaints Against Police (Supplementary Report) (ALRC 9)
The Australian Law Reform Commission received its first reference in May 1975 and issued a working paper before concluding its final report, tabled in federal Parliament on 7 August 1975.
The proposals in Complaints Against Policy (ALRC 1) were substantially accepted by the then federal Government and included in the Australia Police Bill 1975. The Bill lapsed with the dissolution of Parliament in November 1975. Government policy changed and the proposal to establish an amalgamated national force of all of the Commonwealth's police was not proceeded with.
In 1977, the Attorney-General asked the ALRC to review its earlier report in light of these changed circumstances. The new terms of reference were received in January 1977 and the final report, Complaints Against Police (ALRC 9) was tabled in June 1978. ALRC 1 and 9 have been reprinted as one volume.
The recommendations of the reports have been substantially implemented.