Publications

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.

20.01.1996

Open Government – A Review of the Federal Freedom of Information Act 1982 (ALRC Report 77)

The ALRC began this joint reference with the Administrative Review Council in July 1994. ALRC Report 77 was tabled in January 1996.The principal purpose of the review was to determine whether the FOI Act had achieved the purposes and objectives it was designed to achieve and, if it had not, to recommend changes to improve …

20.10.1995

Costs Shifting – Who Pays for Litigation (ALRC Report 75)

ALRC Report 75 (tabled October 1995) arose from a recommendation in the Access to Justice Advisory Committee 1995 report Access to Justice: An Action Plan. The report reviews the impact on the litigation system of the costs allocation rules. ALRC 75 found that the costs allocation rules sometimes operate unfairly and can deny access to …

31.08.1995

Designs (ALRC Report 74)

ALRC Report 74 was tabled in federal parliament on 31 August 1995. It contains recommendations to modernise and simplify Australian designs laws.These recommendations are aimed at improving the rights of those who design the innovative visual features of manufactured products – from cut-glass to textiles to garage doors. The report concluded that designs laws need …

20.06.1995

For the Sake of the Kids: Complex Contact Cases and the Family Court (ALRC Report 73)

The Australian Law Reform Commission was asked by the Family Law Council to join it in researching legal aid costs and related issues in repetitive access applications coming before the Family Court. The ALRC’s work on the project was published independently as ALRC Report 73 (tabled June 1995).The research for the report encompasses a survey …

20.03.1995

The Coming of Age: New Aged Care Legislation for the Commonwealth (ALRC Report 72)

ALRC Report 72 (tabled March 1995) was the second of three reports, which resulted from a series of inquiries into Acts administered by the Department of Health and Family Services. It identifies problems with the outdated and complicated legislation dealing with aged care services, in particular the National Health Act 1953 (Cth) and the Aged …

21.12.1994

Equality before the Law: Women’s Equality (ALRC Report 69 Part 2)

ALRC Report 69 (Part 2) was tabled 21 December 1994. Part 2 of the report is about the architecture of the legal system, that is, the specific laws and practices that contribute to women’s inequality.Equality before the Law: Women’s Equality provides an overview of areas of substantive law in which gender bias is evident. The …

08.11.1994

Child Care for Kids (ALRC Report 70)

ALRC Report 70 (tabled 8 November 1994) deals specifically with the Child Care Act 1972 (Cth) and the operation of child care outside this legislation through the Children’s Services Program, such as occasional care and family day care. The main findings of Child Care for Kids (ALRC Report 70) centre on the need for new legislation …

25.07.1994

Equality before the Law: Justice for Women (ALRC Report 69 Part 1)

ALRC Report 69 (Part 1) was tabled on 25 July 1994. Part I contains further discussion and recommendations about access to justice and violence.The ALRC found the legal system itself is a factor in the subordination of women. Equality before the Law: Justice for Women argued that the legal system sanctions and perpetuates means by which men …

20.06.1994

Compliance with the Trade Practices Act 1974 (ALRC Report 68)

ALRC Report 68 (tabled June 1994) reviewed the sanctions, penalties, remedies and other provisions in the Trade Practices Act 1974 (TPA) relating to compliance with Part V, having regard to the need for effective compliance, difficulties that had been experienced, and the need for quick, cost effective and fair remedies. Compliance with the Trade Practices …

03.03.1994

Equality before the Law – Interim Report (ALRC Report 67)

In its interim report (tabled 3 March 1994), the ALRC recommended the immediate establishment of a National Women’s Justice Program (NWJP) to address women’s needs for access to justice. View Equality before the Law – Interim Report (ALRC Report 67) on the AustLII website.