Age barriers to work e-news | Welcome to the Inquiry

Issue 1 | 13 March 2012  View original format

Terms of Reference announced

Today the ALRC commenced a new inquiry into legal barriers to mature age persons participating in the workforce—namely for people aged 45 years and over. Under the Terms of Reference, the ALRC is to identify these barriers and consider reforms to address them in Commonwealth laws, including: social security, superannuation, insurance, compensation and employment. The ALRC is due to report by the end of March 2013.

See Terms of Reference >>

We will use this newsletter to keep you informed of the progress of the inquiry and to seek input at specific stages (see The inquiry process, below). We will consult key stakeholders throughout the inquiry, with the first call for formal submissions occurring upon the release of an Issues Paper, anticipated to be in May 2012. However, we welcome input from the public at any stage of the inquiry. The team can be emailed using the link on the right.

As with all ALRC inquiries, the process works best with as much stakeholder participation as possible. If you know of anyone you think might be interested in this inquiry, please invite them to subscribe to this newsletter.

The Hon Susan Ryan AO joins the inquiry

The ALRC is delighted to welcome the Hon Susan Ryan AO as a Part-time Commissioner on this inquiry. Her appointment to the ALRC was announced by the Attorney-General, the Hon Nicola Roxon MP, on 8 February 2012.

Immediately prior to becoming Australia’s first Age Discrimination Commissioner in 2011, Ms Ryan was the Independent Chair of the IAG and NRMA Superannuation Plan and had been President of the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees from 2000 to 2007, a member of the Australian Council of Superannuation Investors from 2001 to 2007, a member of the ASX Corporate Governance Council from 2003 to 2007 and CEO of the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia from 1993 to 1997.

Commissioner Ryan’s long-term experience and extensive knowledge in areas relevant to the inquiry will be incredibly valuable for the ALRC.

On the right are some recent articles by Commissioner Ryan: they each touch on issues relevant to mature-age persons and work.

The inquiry process

As we kick off a new inquiry, it is timely to explain to new stakeholders—and perhaps remind those who have been on this journey with us before—how the ALRC law reform process works.

While each inquiry process differs and needs to be tailored to accommodate the scope, the range of key stakeholders, the complexity of the laws under review and the timeframe, the ALRC usually works within a set framework in developing recommendations for reform.

The law reform process >>