News and Media

Review of Human Tissue Laws: Discussion Paper released

The Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) has today released the Discussion Paper in its Review of Human Tissue Laws. The Discussion Paper contains a number of questions and proposed reforms for feedback. Organisations and individuals with an interest in the Inquiry are invited to provide submissions until 23 January 2026.  ALRC Commissioner Dr Maeghan Toews …

Review of Surrogacy Laws: Discussion Paper released

The Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) today released its Discussion Paper in its Review of Surrogacy Laws. The Discussion Paper sets out proposed reforms of surrogacy laws for feedback and also asks a number of questions. Organisations and individuals with an interest in the review are invited to provide submissions until 19 December 2025.  ALRC …

Keynote Address – 15th Annual Ron McCallum Debate: Reforming Australia’s Labour Laws

Keynote address to the Australian Institute of Employment Rights‘s Ron McCallum Debate: Reforming Australia’s Labour Laws, 6 November 2025, Sydney CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY In my current position as President of the Australian Law Reform Commission, I get invited to speak at events such as tonight’s often. As the founding president of the Australian Institute of …

ALRC at 50: Past, Present and Future

Address to the 2025 Australasian Law Reform Agencies Conference (ALRAC) by the Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG, 9 October 2025 The Honourable Michael Kirby AC CMG: Inaugural Chairman of the Australian Law Reform Commission (1975-1984); Deputy President Australian Conciliation and Arbitration Commission (1975-83); Judge of the Federal Court of Australia (1983-4); President of the NSW …

The Challenge of AI for Law Reform and the Legal Profession

Address to the Australian Law Forum 2025 by ALRC President the Hon Justice Mordy Bromberg, 14 August 2025 Transcript CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY “Sensation is unorganised stimulus, perception is organised sensation, conception is organised perception, science is organised knowledge, wisdom is organised life: each is a greater degree of order, and sequence and unity.” At the …

Defining death: ALRC examines laws around human tissue and organs

ALRC Commissioner, Dr Maeghan Toews appeared on The Law Report, ABC Radio National to discuss the ALRC’s Review of Human Tissue Laws. Listen here   Brought to you by  ABC Radio National Presented by Kristina Kukolja   In Australia, ‘what is death’ and other legal definitions, such as what constitutes human tissue, have not kept up …

Recording: Webinar, Review of the Future Acts Regime

Webinar presentation slide deck (PDF)

Update from the Review of Human Tissue Laws

ALRC In Brief | June 2025

From the ALRC President Welcome to the latest edition of the ALRC’s In Brief newsletter. It has been a busy few months at the Commission, with all three of our Inquiries releasing publications, and a major media event for our most recently completed Inquiry. The Review of the Future Acts Regime has delivered its Discussion …

Safe, informed, supported: addressing sexual violence

Address to the National Press Club of Australia by ALRC President the Hon Justice Mordy Bromberg, 4 June 2025 Transcript CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY Can I commence by acknowledging the Ngunnawal and Ngambri peoples as the traditional custodians of the land on which we meet today. I pay my deep respects to their Elders, past and …