21.07.2026

ALRC In Brief | July 2026

From the ALRC President

Welcome to the latest edition of the ALRC’s In Brief newsletter.

The last few months have been incredibly busy at the ALRC. We welcomed Commonwealth Attorney-General the Hon Michelle Rowland MP to the ALRC’s Melbourne office, providing an opportunity to showcase our hard-working team, as well as brief the Attorney on the Commission’s work and priorities. We have also celebrated the submission and tabling of one Final Report, with another two approaching completion.

The ALRC is pleased to have recently launched our Final Report in the Review of the Future Acts Regime, following its tabling in the Federal Parliament. The ALRC’s Inquiry is the most significant review of the future acts regime since its inception almost 30 years ago. Our Report, titled ‘Fulfilling the Promise of Mabo: Reforming the Future Acts Regime in the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth)’, contains 86 recommendations for reform, that aim to build a stronger native title system through a fairer and more efficient future acts regime.

Our Report finds that the future acts regime is fundamentally unfair, unequal and discriminatory, providing native title holders with fewer and weaker rights than the holders of other property rights. The recommendations for reform proposed by the ALRC would reduce the inequality and unfairness of the regime, support economic development and benefit sharing, vastly improve the efficiency of the system, and help Australia meet its international obligations. You can learn more about the report on the ALRC website, including a recording of our recent webinar briefing on the Report.

The ALRC also continues to work at pace on the Final Reports for our Review of Surrogacy Laws and Review of Human Tissue Laws. Both Inquiries reflect the ALRC’s capacity to undertake complex and sophisticated law reform work on a diverse range of issues. We will provide updates as these reports are finalised and made available to the public.

Finally, I am pleased to report that the ALRC received a substantial increase in funding over the next 4 years in May’s federal budget. This additional funding reflects the value of and support for independent institutional law reform, as part of a strong and healthy system of laws in Australia. This improved resourcing will allow the ALRC to continue to conduct rigorous law reform work, and deliver high quality reports and recommendations for law reform, underpinned by research, analysis and consultation.

I look forward to sharing more of the ALRC’s excellent work with you throughout the rest of this year.

– Mordy Bromberg

The Hon Justice Mordecai Bromberg
President, Australian Law Reform Commission

Review of the Future Acts Regime

You can now read the Final Report for the Review of the Future Acts Regime,  ‘Fulfilling the Promise of Mabo’ on the ALRC’s website at www.alrc.gov.au/fulfilling-the-promise-of-mabo. In addition to the detailed Final Report, the ALRC has also published a concise Summary Report, as well as a range of supporting and explanatory materials.

Visit the website to hear and watch from the Inquiry leadership including our launch webinar, read the context and history of the future acts regime and native title, and access informative materials and explainers.

Surrogacy and Human Tissue Inquiries near finish line

The ALRC’s two remaining Inquiries, the Review of Surrogacy Laws and the Review of Human Tissue Laws, are both approaching their completion. Since the commencement of both Inquiries, the ALRC has undertaken rigorous legal research and analysis, consulted extensively with the community, experts and key stakeholders, and published multiple consultation publications. Our thanks to all stakeholders and parties who have contributed to our consultation and engagement.

After the ALRC submits its Final Reports for each Inquiry to the Commonwealth Attorney-General over the coming months, government must then table the Reports within 15 parliamentary sitting days of the ALRC’s submission, at which point the Final Reports are made publicly available. We look forward to updating you as the Reports become public.

In other news

Read more news from the field of law reform in Australia and beyond.

  • The ALRC congratulates Associate Professor Ronli Sifris on her appointment as the Director of the Castan Centre for Human Rights Law at Monash University, commencing 1 August 2026. Associate Professor Sifris is Assistant Commissioner for the ALRC’s Review of Surrogacy Laws.

  • Law reformers from around the word participated in the Commonwealth Association of Law Reform Agencies (CALRA) conference in Singapore this month.

  • The Victorian Law Reform Commission’s review of legal privilege and integrated legal assistance services has published a consultation paper, and is currently calling for submissions. The deadline for submissions is 3 August 2026.

  • Submissions close shortly on 27 July 2026, for the Tasmania Law Reform Institute’s review of the Coroners Act 1995 (Tas). The Institute has provided a submission template to assist stakeholders, and also published an issues paper in this review.

  • Victoria’s Sentencing Advisory Council released a report examining the impact of changes in 2018 to sentencing for serious youth offences.

  • Judith Collins KC has commenced her term as President of the Law Commission of New Zealand Aotearoa. The Commission’s latest newsletter includes a message from the President outlining her background and vision for the agency’s work.

  • Pakistan’s Law and Justice Commission has recommended a constitutional amendment to establish an International Commercial Court of Pakistan.

  • The Law Commission of England and Wales is reviewing the laws relating to kinship care, with a consultation paper published and submissions open until 16 October 2026. The Commission is also consulting on reforms to homicide laws in England and Wales.

  • The Scottish Law Commission has recently welcomed the appointment of Lord Sandison as Chair, and Roisin Higgins KC as Commissioner.

  • The Law Reform Commission of Ireland has received a referral relating to a proposed new criminal offence for misconduct in public office.

  • The Kenya Law Reform Commission welcomed new Members, Mutula Kilonzo Jr CBS and Annette Imbuhila Wangia, as well as the appointment of James Nombi as Secretary and CEO.