![Page 1: A window on law reform for government lawyers](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051817/547cae8c5806b5e03f8b47bf/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
A window on law reform for government lawyers
28 August 2012
Professor Rosalind F CroucherPresident
1
![Page 2: A window on law reform for government lawyers](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051817/547cae8c5806b5e03f8b47bf/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
• The need for law reform• Where law reform happens—and the
value of independent Commissions• What drives law reform• The process of law reforming• Problems in achieving law reform
Law reforming …
![Page 3: A window on law reform for government lawyers](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051817/547cae8c5806b5e03f8b47bf/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
The need for law reform• Common law moves slowly – law gets stuck• Legislative change has to navigate the democratic processes of parliament – law gets stuck• Law reform to get things ‘unstuck’
![Page 4: A window on law reform for government lawyers](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051817/547cae8c5806b5e03f8b47bf/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
Where law reform happens• joint ministerial councils • committees in both Houses of the federal Parliament • departmental and inter-departmental committees• bodies providing specialist advice—
eg Administrative Review Council and Family Law Council• Royal Commissions and other ad hoc inquiries• and law reform bodies!
![Page 5: A window on law reform for government lawyers](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051817/547cae8c5806b5e03f8b47bf/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Independent Commissions
Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832)
![Page 6: A window on law reform for government lawyers](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051817/547cae8c5806b5e03f8b47bf/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
In situ University College London
Independent Commissions
![Page 7: A window on law reform for government lawyers](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051817/547cae8c5806b5e03f8b47bf/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
Independent Commissions
The Hon Michael Kirby AC CMGFoundation Chairman, ALRC
![Page 8: A window on law reform for government lawyers](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051817/547cae8c5806b5e03f8b47bf/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
What drives law reform
• Old laws need modernising• Technological change• Social attitudes shift• Federal laws/state laws a jumble
![Page 9: A window on law reform for government lawyers](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051817/547cae8c5806b5e03f8b47bf/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
The process of law reforming
• Terms of Reference• Australian Law Reform Commission Act
– don’t : • trespass unduly on personal rights and liberties • make rights and liberties unduly dependent on
administrative decisions– do:
• be consistent with international obligations• consider costs of getting access to justice
![Page 10: A window on law reform for government lawyers](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051817/547cae8c5806b5e03f8b47bf/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
• Commissioner in charge• Part-time Commissioners• Advisory Committee• Consultation documents• Consultations and submissions• Expert readers
The process of law reforming
![Page 11: A window on law reform for government lawyers](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051817/547cae8c5806b5e03f8b47bf/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
Issues Paper
Discussion Paper Report
11
Consultations
Submissions
Advisory Committee/Panels
The process of law reforming
![Page 12: A window on law reform for government lawyers](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051817/547cae8c5806b5e03f8b47bf/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
Problems of achieving
• Constitutional divide• Budgets• TOR• Consultation• Timeframes• Not self-executing
![Page 13: A window on law reform for government lawyers](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051817/547cae8c5806b5e03f8b47bf/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
Get involved!
![Page 14: A window on law reform for government lawyers](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051817/547cae8c5806b5e03f8b47bf/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
Information about ALRC work• www.alrc.gov.au
– all papers, reports available free• Email: [email protected]• Fax: +61-2-8238 6363• Mail: GPO Box 3708, Sydney 2001