The reform process

1.48       The release of this Issues Paper is the first major step in this Inquiry. The ALRC invites individuals and organisations to make a submission, particularly in response to the questions raised in this Issues Paper.

1.49       Generally, submissions will be published on the ALRC website, unless they are marked confidential. Confidential submissions may still be the subject of a request for access under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth). In the absence of a clear indication that a submission is intended to be confidential, the ALRC will treat the submission as public. However, the ALRC does not publish anonymous submissions.

1.50       Following the release of this Issues Paper, the ALRC will meet with a broad range of people across Australia, including people from industry, professional associations, lawyers, judges, academics, and the broader Australian community.

1.51       The ALRC will also convene and meet with an Advisory Committee of experts. For this Inquiry, the Advisory Committee is likely to meet twice.

1.52       These consultations and the submissions we receive, in addition to our own research, will help the ALRC formulate draft proposals for reform. These draft proposals will be outlined in a Discussion Paper to be released in mid-2015. The ALRC will call for submissions on these proposals and engage in a further round of consultations.

1.53       A Final Report will be released at the end of November 2015.

1.54       Further information about the ALRC consultation and submission processes, including information about how the ALRC uses submissions in its work, is available on the ALRC website, along with how to subscribe to the Inquiry enews.