Process of reform
Mapping secrecy laws1.20 An integral component of the background research undertaken by the ALRC for this Inquiry was a ‘mapping exercise’ to identify and analyse the multitude of secrecy provisions in Commonwealth legislation. The 506 secrecy provisions identified by the ALRC are scattered throughout 176 pieces of primary and subordinate legislation administrative responsibility for which …
Publications
Read moreTerms of Reference
The 2009 report by the Access to Justice Taskforce, A Strategic Framework for Access to Justice in the Federal Civil Justice System examined access to civil justice in the federal system from a system-wide, strategic perspective. In considering barriers to justice in relation to court based dispute resolution, the Taskforce noted the high and often …
Inquiries
Read moreInquiry into the Tax Amendment (Confidentiality of Taxpayer Information) Bill 2009 (Cth)
The Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) makes the following submission to the Senate Standing Committee of Privileges Inquiry into the Tax Laws Amendment (Confidentiality of Taxpayer Information) Bill 2009 (Cth) (the Bill). In making this submission, the ALRC draws on its experience from its inquiry into secrecy laws which culminated in the final report—Secrecy Laws …
Publications
Read moreNavigating the Maze – Family Violence Inquiry, JD Guest Lecture
Professor Rosalind Croucher, President, Australian Law Reform Commission. University of Melbourne The text below does not include the original footnotes. Download PDF for full version.Introduction In speaking to you today I will be looking at law reform, using the ALRC’s current inquiry into family violence as the illustration, in order to demonstrate the challenges of …
News/Media Release
Read moreFVI e-newsletter – April 2010
Consultation Paper to be released late April The Consultation Paper for the Family Violence Inquiry will be released late April. It will be available on CDROM, as a PDF (via the ALRC website) and in HTML (via the AustLII website). A hard copy of the report will be available soon after. Given the importance of …
News/Media Release
Read moreALRC reforms strike a blow to the old culture of secrecy
Secrecy laws, and the prosecution of public servants for the unauthorised disclosure of Commonwealth information, can sit uneasily with the Australian Government’s commitment to open and accountable government. The final report of the Australian Law Reform Commission’s comprehensive review of Commonwealth secrecy laws, Secrecy Laws and Open Government in Australia (ALRC Report 112) was tabled …
News/Media Release
Read moreRoyal Commissions and official inquiries
The ALRC considered a number of matters including whether there was any need to develop an alternative form or forms of Commonwealth executive inquiry, with statutory foundations, to provide more flexibility, less formality and greater cost-effectiveness than a Royal Commission.
Inquiries
Read moreMaking Inquiries: A New Statutory Framework (ALRC Report 111)
ALRC Report 111 represents the culmination of a nine month inquiry by the ALRC into the operation of the provisions of the Royal Commissions Act 1902 (Cth), and the question of whether an alternative form or forms of Commonwealth executive inquiry should be established by statute.It consists of 21 chapters and 82 recommendations for reform.View …
Publications
Read moreFVI e-newsletter – February 2010
This month in summary The Commission is deep in writing mode this month, with the release of the Consultation Paper planned for late April. But we have still managed to fit in some further excellent consultations. In particular, we had a second roundtable discussion with the Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearinghouse, one of the …
News/Media Release
Read moreALRC submission to Senate Standing Committee inquiry into the Freedom of Information Amendment (Reform) Bill 2009 (Cth) and the Information Commissioner Bill 2009 (Cth)
The Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) makes the following submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Public Administration inquiry into the draft Freedom of Information Amendment (Reform) Bill 2009 (Cth) and the Information Commissioner Bill 2009 (Cth). The ALRC made a submission to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet on the …
Publications
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