Reform Journal Relaunched in 2021

In October, the Australian Law Reform Commission published the 95th issue of the journal Reform, following an 11-year hiatus. The first issue was released in January 1976, and then twice a year until 2010. The journal’s aim was to raise public awareness of contemporary legal issues and to provide a forum for high-quality debate on issues of law reform in an easy-to-read format.

This special issue of the journal Reform arises out of the work of law students who conducted research on issues relating to the ALRC’s inquiry into religious exemptions in anti-discrimination legislation during 2020 under the supervision of ALRC staff. Students have long made important contributions to the ALRC’s work in a number of different ways, and the ALRC values the opportunity to engage emerging Australian lawyers in the field of law reform.

The students who have contributed to this issue offered their services through collaborative partnerships the ALRC has established with the University of Queensland and the University of Melbourne, and the ALRC thanks and acknowledges those institutions for their ongoing support.

Financial Services Legislation New Background Papers

The latest Financial Services Legislation Inquiry background papers are now available online.

The ALRC has released three background papers as part of its Review of the Legislative Framework for Corporations and Financial Services Regulation.

These background papers are intended to provide a high-level overview of topics of relevance to the Inquiry. Further background papers will be released throughout the duration of the Inquiry, addressing key principles and areas of research that underpin the development of recommendations.

• Initial Stakeholder Views (FSL1)
• Complexity and Legislative Design (FSL2) 
• Improving the Navigability of Legislation (FSL3)

Judicial Impartiality Report Due Date

On Wednesday 6 October, the High Court of Australia delivered judgment in Charisteas v Charisteas [2021] HCA 29. In accordance with the ALRC Judicial Impartiality amended Terms of Reference (dated 21 June 2021), delivery of the Final Report to the Commonwealth Attorney-General is now due on 6 December 2021.