The ALRC produces a range of publications including:
- Inquiry Reports,
- Consultation Documentation,
- Information sheets, and
- Reform Journal
The ALRC is committed to improving public access to its work and all past reports and recent consultation papers are available for free viewing and download via this website.
Some publications are available in book format for purchase.
Balancing secrecy, freedom of expression and open government
2.80 The challenge for the ALRC in this Inquiry is to strike the right balance between the public interest in open and accountable government and the public interest in maintaining the confidentiality of some government information. The goal, then, is to identify the proper place, if any, for secrecy provisions in the context of a …
Read moreALRC submission to inquiry into the provisions of the National Security Legislation Amendment Bill 2010 and Parliamentary Joint Committee on Law Enforcement Bill 2010
Submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, 3 May 2010The Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the Committee’s inquiry. The ALRC will restrict its comments to the National Security Legislation Amendment Bill 2010 (Cth), drawing on its experience from the major inquiry into sedition laws in …
Read moreALRC Submission to the Inquiry into the Tax Laws 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), on 15 April 2010In making this submission, the ALRC draws on its experience from its inquiry into secrecy laws which culminated in the …
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 …
Read moreSecrecy Laws and Open Government in Australia (ALRC Report 112)
Official secrecy has a necessary and proper province in our system of government. A surfeit of secrecy does not.On 5 August 2008, the Attorney-General of Australia, the Hon Robert McClelland MP, asked the Australian Law Reform Commission to conduct an Inquiry into options for ensuring a consistent approach across government to the protection of Commonwealth …
Read moreALRC submission to inquiry into the Future Direction and Role of the Scrutiny of Bills Committee
Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills Inquiry into the Future Direction and Role of the Scrutiny of Bills Committee.The ALRC welcomes the opportunity to contribute to a discussion on the future direction and role of this very important Committee.In order to assist the Committee with its inquiry, the ALRC has conducted a survey …
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 …
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 …
Read moreAnnual Reports 1999-2009
The Australian Law Reform Commission has produced annual reports since 1975. The following Annual Reports are available online:ALRC 113 Annual Report 2009-2010ALRC 110 Annual Report 2008-2009ALRC 109 Annual Report 2007-2008ALRC 106 Annual Report 2006-2007ALRC 105 Annual Report 2006ALRC 101 Annual Report 2005ALRC 100 Annual Report 2004ALRC 97 Annual Report 2003ALRC 94 Annual Report 2002ALRC 93 …
Read moreReform journal
The Australian Law Reform Commission published the first issue of Reform in January 1976, and then twice a year until 2010. The journal’s aim was to raise public awareness of contemporary legal issues and provides a forum for high-quality debate on issues of law reform in an easy-to-read format. Previous articles contributed by leading Australian …
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