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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 …
Read more08.04.2009
New Visions for Native Title and Reconciliation
A new vision for native title is needed to deliver on the hopes and expectations of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians following the High Court’s decisions in Mabo and Wik. That is the message emerging from the latest edition of the ALRC’s Reform journal, to be launched today in Sydney by the Attorney-General of Australia, the …
Read more06.04.2009
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 …
Read more09.02.2009
National phone-in and blog on Commonwealth Secrecy Laws
The Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) today announced a national two day phone-in and new online discussion forum as part of its commitment to engaging in widespread community consultation on reform of Commonwealth secrecy laws. Anyone who has ever been involved in handling Commonwealth information will have the chance to speak out about their personal experiences …
Read more03.02.2009
ALRC expresses deep gratitude to Justice Michael Kirby for service to law reform
Marking the resignation of Justice Michael Kirby, the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) President, Professor David Weisbrot, today expressed his admiration and gratitude to the former High Court Judge for his outstanding dedication to law reform in Australia. Professor Weisbrot said Justice Kirby has definitive views on law reform and in Kirby’s own words said …
Read more21.01.2009
ALRC to consider flexibility, formality and cost of Royal Commissions
The Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) welcomed the announcement today by the Commonwealth Attorney-General, the Hon Robert McClelland MP, of new Terms of Reference for the ALRC to review the Royal Commissions Act 1902 (Cth) and related issues. The Terms of Reference ask the ALRC to focus on a number of matters, including: whether there …
Read more23.12.2008
Government to implement ALRC’s Sedition Report
Australian Law Reform Commission President, Professor David Weisbrot, welcomed the Government’s positive response to the ALRC’s 2006 report Fighting Words: A Review of Sedition Laws in Australia (ALRC Report 104), announced today by the Commonwealth Attorney-General, the Hon Robert McClelland MP. The ALRC made 27 recommendations for reform of the law in this area, and …
Read more09.12.2008
Do we need secrecy laws in an open society?
The Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) today released a community consultation paper for its current inquiry into Commonwealth Secrecy laws.—Review of Secrecy Laws (Issues Paper 34)—which seeks ideas and feedback about how we balance the need to maintain the secrecy and confidentiality of some government documents with a commitment to increased openness and transparency. ALRC …
Read more01.10.2008
ALRC revisits the legal rights of children and young people in Australia
It is now a little over ten years since the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) and the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (now the Australian Human Rights Commission) released the landmark 1997 report Seen and Heard: Priority for Children in the Legal Process (ALRC Report 84). Seen and Heard represented the culmination of a …
Read more11.08.2008
Media Briefing – Simplifying and harmonising privacy law and practice
11 August 2008, Privacy Inquiry A consolidated set of privacy principles The Privacy Act provides different sets of Privacy Principles for the handling of personal information by government agencies and by private sector organisations. Contractors to the Australian Government, government business enterprises, and those involved in public-private partnerships may be bound to comply with both …
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