External Scrutiny and Controls

Parliamentary scrutiny

Representatives of the ALRC regularly appear at Senate Estimates Committee hearings to answer questions about the ALRC’s operations.

The President, Emeritus Professor David Weisbrot and Executive Director Sabina Wynn were required to attend Supplementary Budget Estimates Hearings on 19 October 2009.

The ALRC was not required to attend the Senate Additional Estimates Hearing on Monday 8 February 2010.

The President, Professor Rosalind Croucher and Executive Director Sabina Wynn were required to attend Senate Budget Estimates Hearing in Canberra on Monday 24 May 2010.

In February 2010, the President, Professor Rosalind Croucher and Research Manager, Mr Jonathan Dobinson reported via telephone conference to the public hearing for the Senate Finance and Public Administration Committee’s Inquiry into the Freedom of Information Amendment (Reform) Bill 2009 and the Information Commissioner Bill 2009, following a formal written submission the ALRC made to the Inquiry.

Court and tribunal decisions

There were no judicial decisions or decisions of administrative tribunals during 2009–2010 that involved the ALRC or had a significant impact on the operations of the ALRC.

Commonwealth Ombudsman

No issues relating to the ALRC were referred to the Commonwealth Ombudsman’s office.