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 …

News/Media Release

Review of Human Tissue Laws: Discussion Paper (2025)

This Discussion Paper continues the conversation started in our Issues Paper. We are now asking you to let us know your thoughts about our reform proposals, and related questions. The Discussion Paper contains 49 proposals and 47 questions. These cover a wide range of issues. You do not need to respond to every Proposal or …

Publications

Submissions

The views and opinions expressed in the submissions belong to their authors and do not reflect those of the Australian Law Reform Commission. For more information, see our submissions policy. Content warning Some submissions contain information about tissue and organ donation, and the circumstances in which people died before donating tissue, that is confronting and may …

Inquiries

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 …

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Update from the Review of Human Tissue Laws

News/Media Release

Review of Surrogacy Laws: Issues Paper (2025)

The Issues Paper introduces our inquiry and explains what we have been asked to do. It provides a brief overview of surrogacy laws in Australia.  The Issues Paper also sets out some principles we may use to guide reform and lists some reform issues that appear to be a high priority. We are interested to …

Publications

Review of Human Tissue Laws: Issues Paper released

The Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) today released its Issues Paper in its Review of Human Tissue Laws, calling for submissions to the Inquiry. The Issues Paper provides a broad overview of the Inquiry and sets out eight questions for stakeholders to consider.   ALRC Commissioner Dr Maeghan Toews, commented on the Issue Paper’s release:   …

News/Media Release

Review of Human Tissue Laws: Issues Paper (2025)

The Issues Paper introduces our inquiry and explains what we have been asked to do. It provides a brief overview of human tissue laws. The Issues Paper also sets out some aims and principles we may use to guide reform and lists some reform issues that appear to be a high priority. We are interested …

Publications

Make a submission

Submissions for the Review of Human Tissue Laws are now open, and will close 11:59pm on 23 January 2026

Inquiries

Advisory Committee

The ALRC typically forms an advisory committee, or panel of experts, for each Inquiry. The Advisory Committee for the ALRC’s Review of Human Tissue Laws comprises the following: Professor Dominique Martin, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health, Deakin University Professor Shih-Ning Then, Deputy Director, Australian Centre for Health Law Research, QUT Professor Jeremy Chapman AC, Clinical …

Inquiries