From the ALRC President

ALRC President the Hon Justice Mordy Bromberg

Welcome to the latest edition of the ALRC’s In Brief newsletter. It has been a busy few months at the Commission, with all three of our Inquiries releasing publications, and a major media event for our most recently completed Inquiry.

The Review of the Future Acts Regime has delivered its Discussion Paper, the second publication for the Inquiry. The Discussion Paper outlines options for reform and asks for further feedback from native title holders and stakeholders on how the future Acts regime can be reformed, and invites submissions in response to the Discussion Paper.

Our Review of Human Tissue Laws and Review of Surrogacy Laws have both also released their Issues Papers in recent weeks, calling for submissions and asking stakeholders and the public to comment on the issues that we are likely to look at in these Inquiries, as well as outlining the approaches and principles we are considering in conducting these reviews. You can read further updates from all three teams below.

I was also pleased to visit Canberra last week to deliver a National Press Club address, ‘Safe, informed, supported: addressing sexual violence’ following the publication earlier this year of the Final Report for our Justice Responses to Sexual Violence Inquiry. Alongside Domestic, Family and Sexual violence Commissioner Micaela Cronin, we addressed the gathered media, stakeholders, and the audience watching the broadcast event, highlighting our Final Report’s important recommendations for reform in this area.

Commissioner Cronin and I took the opportunity to talk about the profound impact that sexual violence has on our communities and on individuals who experience sexual violence, and the imperative for substantial and sustainable reform across the justice system and beyond. You can watch the recording of the National Press Club address on the ALRC website.

We continue to plan the Australasian Law Reform Agencies Conference (ALRAC 2025) and our 50th Anniversary Celebration dinner in October this year. Further information will be coming in the next few weeks, including registration and ticketing for both events. If you wish to get in touch about these events, in particular for those who may wish to organise a table for our 50th anniversary celebration dinner, please email events@alrc.gov.au. I do hope we will see you there.

– Mordy Bromberg

The Hon Justice Mordecai Bromberg
President, Australian Law Reform Commission

Tell us what you think: submissions now open until 10 July

The Discussion Paper for the Review of the Future Acts Regime is out now. The Discussion Paper outlines options for reform to the future acts regime in the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth), and continues the conversation started earlier in our Inquiry by asking for your thoughts on potential reforms. Submissions in response to the Discussion Paper are now open, and will close on 11 July.

Join us at our free webinar, 1–2pm AEST on Wednesday, 2 July

On Wednesday 2 July, we will be hosting a free webinar to outline what we’ve heard so far, discuss some of our key ideas for reform, and answer your questions. You can learn more and register via the link before.

A message from Commissioner, Tony McAvoy SC

Our Commissioner, Tony McAvoy SC, has recorded a short video about the Inquiry and seeking your feedback to help us develop recommendations for reform.

Issues Papers released for the Review of Human Tissue Laws and the Review of Surrogacy Laws

Issues Papers have recently been released for both our Review of Human Tissue Laws and Review of Surrogacy Laws. Read more on these publications below.

The Issues Paper for the Review of Human Tissue Laws outlines key issues the Inquiry is considering, proposes principles to guide law reform in this area, and sets out questions for stakeholders to consider. Key issues include donation by living and deceased persons, anatomical and post-mortem examinations, advertising and trade in human tissue, and allocation of donated human tissue. Submissions in response to the Human Tissue Laws Issues Paper are open until 4 July.

The Issues Paper for the Review of Surrogacy Laws outlines topics of focus for the Inquiry, including barriers to domestic surrogacy, legal parentage of children born through surrogacy, oversight and harmonisation. The Issues Paper also seeks feedback on principles to guide the Inquiry, such as accessibility, pragmatism, harm minimisation, harmonisation and human rights. Submissions in response to the Surrogacy Laws Issues Paper are open until 11 July 2025.

Watch now: National Press Club address, ‘Safe, Informed, Supported’

Justice Mordy Bromberg addresses the National Press Club of Australia in Canberra on 4 June 2025

On June 4th, ALRC President the Hon Justice Mordy Bromberg joined Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commissioner Micaela Cronin to deliver a National Press Club address titled ‘Safe, informed, supported: addressing sexual violence’. Justice Bromberg and Commissioner Cronin addressed the ALRC’s 2025 Final Report in its Inquiry into Justice Responses to Sexual Violence, highlighted the seriousness and prevalence of sexual violence in Australia, and outlined the roadmap to tackle the challenges.

You can now watch the National Press Club’s recording of the joint address online via ABC iView (address and media questions) or the NPC channel on Youtube below (address only).

Upcoming events

Registrations will soon open for the ALRC’s 50th anniversary celebration dinner on October 9th, 2025. Hosted in Melbourne at the elegant RACV City Club’s 17th floor, the evening promises to be an engaging and enjoyable celebration of this iconic Australian legal institution, and an opportunity to network and hear from eminent peers and colleagues across the legal profession.

We will be announcing our program for the evening soon, along with ticket sales (both individual and table tickets), as well as a range of exciting featured guests. To stay updated on our 50th anniversary as well as the ALRAC 2025 event, and to be notified when tickets are released for sale, subscribe for event updates at www.alrc.gov.au/events.