11.03.2010

ALRC reforms strike a blow to the old culture of secrecy

Secrecy laws, and the prosecution of public servants for the unauthorised disclosure of Commonwealth information, can sit uneasily with the Australian Government’s commitment to open and accountable government. The final report of the Australian Law Reform Commission’s comprehensive review of Commonwealth secrecy laws, Secrecy Laws and Open Government in Australia (ALRC Report 112) was tabled

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10.02.2010

Royal Commissions and official inquiries

The ALRC considered a number of matters including whether there was any need to develop an alternative form or forms of Commonwealth executive inquiry, with statutory foundations, to provide more flexibility, less formality and greater cost-effectiveness than a Royal Commission.

Inquiries

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09.02.2010

Making Inquiries: A New Statutory Framework (ALRC Report 111)

ALRC Report 111 represents the culmination of a nine month inquiry by the ALRC into the operation of the provisions of the Royal Commissions Act 1902 (Cth), and the question of whether an alternative form or forms of Commonwealth executive inquiry should be established by statute.It consists of 21 chapters and 82 recommendations for reform.View

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04.02.2010

ALRC recommends ‘two-tier’ plan for flexible, cost-effective public inquiries

Costs associated with expensive Royal Commissions could be reduced by establishing an alternative, second tier of public inquiry with proper investigatory powers and appropriate levels of transparency and protections for those involved, Australia’s leading law reform agency said today.The review of Royal Commissions and other federal inquiries by the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) has

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25.12.2009

Secrecy laws and open government

Secrecy laws that impose obligations of confidentiality on individuals handling government information—and the prosecution of public servants for the unauthorised disclosure of such information—can sit uneasily with the Australian Government’s commitment to open and accountable government. Secrecy laws have also drawn sustained criticism on the basis that they unreasonably interfere with the right to freedom

Inquiries

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14.08.2009

Royal Commissions and Official Inquiries (DP 75)

This Discussion Paper, the second consultation document produced during this Inquiry, contains a detailed treatment of the issues. It reflects the views of the stakeholders with whom the Commission had so far consulted and indicates the ALRC’s thinking in the form of specific proposals for reform. View DP 75 in HTML on the AustLII website

Publications

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09.08.2009

ALRC calls for greater flexibility, more options for Royal Commissions and other official inquiries

A legislative framework is required to govern the establishment and operation of official inquiries at the federal level, to ensure that such inquiries have adequate investigatory powers while at the same time ensuring the protection of the rights of individuals concerned, the nation’s peak law reform agency said today.This would put what are now simply

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18.06.2009

ALRC proposals to wind back federal secrecy laws

The Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) today released a Discussion Paper for its current inquiry into federal secrecy laws—Review of Secrecy Laws (DP 74, June 2009)—which makes 65 proposals for reform.The ALRC is seeking community feedback about how to balance a growing commitment to increased openness and transparency in government with the legitimate need to maintain the

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15.04.2009

Review of the Royal Commissions Act (IP 35)

This Issues Paper is the first consultation document produced during the course of the Royal Commissions Inquiry. It identifies the main issues relevant to the Inquiry, provides background information and encourages informed community participation. View IP 35 in html on the AustLII website

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06.04.2009

Cost, formality of Royal Commissions queried in ALRC Review

The Australian Law Reform Commission today released an Issues Paper, Review of the Royal Commissions Act (IP35) seeking feedback from the community on 49 questions posed as part of its current review of the Royal Commissions Act 1902 (Cth). The ALRC has been asked by the Attorney-General, the Hon Robert McClelland MP, to review the

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