Justice

The Australian Lawyers Alliance advocates for equality and non-discrimination.

We promote access to justice and equality before the law for all individuals, regardless of their wealth, gender, sexuality, age, ability, race, or religious belief.

Differential treatment of people by the law in a democratic society should only be used sparingly, and not for the purposes for reducing the principle of equality before the law.

We believe that:

  • discrimination has a prejudicial effect on individuals' lives and should not be tolerated; and
  • legal protections protecting individuals and groups against discrimination and hate speech based on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin must be upheld.

We value immensely the right of the individual to personal autonomy in their lives, and to equal treatment under the law.

Below is an overview listing of our justice-related submissions to date:

Submission To Date
Improving consumer experiences, choice, and outcomes in Australia’s retirement system Senate Economics References Committee, Parliament of Australia 4 March 2024
NDIS participant experience in rural, regional and remote Australia Joint Standing Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme, Parliament of Australia 23 February 2024
Open letter: Investment in prevention strategies and health services – not more Tasers – for Victoria The Hon. Jaclyn Symes, Attorney-General of Victoria 22 February 2024
A framework for Voluntary Assisted Dying in the Northern Territory Expert Advisory Panel, Department of Chief Minister and Cabinet, Northern Territory Government 16 February 2024

Inquiry into the potential for a Human Rights Act for South Australia

Social Development Committee, Parliament of South Australia 14 February 2024
Use of genetic testing results in life insurance underwriting The Treasury, Australian Government 30 January 2024
Reproductive, maternal and paediatric health services in Tasmania Select Committee on Reproductive, Maternal and Paediatric health services in Tasmania, Parliament of Tasmania 25 January 2024

Inquiry into the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Amendment (WorkCover Scheme Modernisation) Bill 2023

Hearing testimony from Shaun Marcus and Lachlan Fitch

Legislative Council Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Parliament of Victoria

Report

4 January 2024

Human Rights Commission Amendment (Costs Protection) Bill 2023

Power To Prevent Coalition submission, to which the ALA is a signatory (9 January 2024)

Questions on notice correspondence (5 February 2024)

Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee

Report

22 December 2023
Inquiry into the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic) Integrity and Oversight Committee, Parliament of Victoria 21 December 2023
Inquiry into Youth Justice Reform in Queensland Youth Justice Reform Select Committee, Queensland Parliament 21 December 2023
Public sector whistleblowing: Stage 2 reforms Federal Attorney-General's Department 20 December 2023
Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2023 (ACT)

Select Committee on the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2023, ACT Legislative Assembly

Report

8 December 2023
Supreme Court (Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry) Bill 2023 Tasmanian Government 7 December 2023
Open letter – Implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Australia Parliament of Australia 6 December 2023
Power2Prevent joint statement: A huge step forward in access to justice in discrimination claims The Commonwealth Government 5 December 2023
Aviation Green Paper Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts 29 November 2023
Achieving Greater Consistency in Laws for Financial Enduring Powers of Attorney Federal Attorney-General's Department 28 November 2023
Recommendations arising from Stakeholder Reference Group meetings 1, 2 and 3 Office of Industrial Relations, Queensland 23 November 2023
Legalising Cannabis Bill 2023 Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs 2 November 2023
Table of Costs Review 2023 WorkCover Queensland 26 October 2023
Criminal Law (Coercive Control and Affirmative Consent) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2023

Legal Affairs and Safety Committee, Queensland Parliament

Report

24 October 2023
Disability Inclusion Bill 2023 (ACT) Ms Suzanne Orr MLA, ACT Government Whip and Member for Yerrabi 20 October 2023

Review of the Counter-Terrorism and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2023 (Cth)

The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security

Report

5 October 2023
Three-Year Review of the Motor Accident Injuries Act 2019 (ACT) Insurance Branch, Economic and Financial Group, Treasury (ACT Government) 5 October 2023
Response to PwC – Whistleblower protections: Exposure Drafts of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Measures for Consultation) Bill 2023 (Cth) and Treasury Laws Amendment (Measures for Consultation) Regulations 2023 (Cth) The Treasury 4 October 2023
Inquiry into a Process to Review Bills for their Impact on First Nations Territorians Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee, Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory 28 September 2023
The implementation of Portfolio Committee No. 2 recommendations relating to workforce issues, workplace culture and funding considerations for remote, rural and regional health Legislative Assembly Select Committee on Remote, Rural and Regional Health (Parliament of NSW) 22 September 2023
Statutory Declarations Amendment Bill 2023 (Cth)

Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee, Parliament of Australia

Report

22 September 2023
Open letter on whistleblower protections The Prime Minister, Attorney-General and Ministers for Defence and the Public Service 13 September 2023
2023 Review of the Workers Compensation Scheme

Standing Committee on Law and Justice, Legislative Council, Parliament of NSW

Report

Government response

8 September 2023
Foundations of a New Aged Care Act The Department of Health and Aged Care, Australian Government 7 September 2023
Treatment, care and support guidelines National Injury Insurance Scheme Agency, Queensland 1 September 2023

The National Disability Insurance Scheme: Recommendations in response to the What we have heard report

What we have heard report

Independent Review of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS Review)

Final Report (December 2023)

21 August 2023
Birth trauma Select Committee on Birth Trauma, Legislative Council, Parliament of NSW 10 August 2023
Modernising Document Execution: Consultation on Proposed Reform to the Execution of Commonwealth Statutory Declarations Federal Attorney-General's Department 28 July 2023
Integrity and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2023

Submission to Economics and Governance Committee, Queensland Parliament

Report

18 July 2023
Inquiry into Australia's Human Rights Framework Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights 30 June 2023
Justice and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2023

Legal Affairs and Safety Committee, Queensland Parliament

Report

22 June 2023
Justice (Age of Criminal Responsibility) Legislation Amendment Bill 2023

ACT Legislative Assembly Standing Committee on Justice and Community Safety

Report

5 June 2023
Administrative Review Reform Federal Attorney-General's Department 12 May 2023
Improving Access to Medicinal Cannabis Bill 2023

Senate Standing Committees on Community Affairs

Report

3 May 2023
Decriminalising Personal Drug Use Bill 2023 (Tas) Dr Rosalie Woodruff, MP for Franklin 3 May 2023
Legalisation of medicinal cannabis SA Parliament Joint Committee on the Legalisation of Medicinal Cannabis 27 April 2023
Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023

Joint Select Committee on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice Referendum

Report

21 April 2023
Inquiry into Tasmanian Adult Imprisonment and Youth Detention Matters Tasmanian Legislative Council Sessional Committee Government Administration B 17 April 2023
Open letter: Time for equal access in discrimination claims Federal Attorney-General's Department 14 April 2023
Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Protecting Worker Entitlements) Bill 2023 [Provisions]

Senate Standing Committees on Education and Employment

Report

14 April 2023
Project 113 – Sexual offences Law Reform Commission of Western Australia 12 April 2023
Consultation: Review into an appropriate cost model for Commonwealth antidiscrimination laws Federal Attorney-General's Department 11 April 2023
Voluntary Assisted Dying

ACT Government

Report

5 April 2023
Government response to the Privacy Act Review Report 2023

Federal Attorney-General's Department

Report

28 March 2023
Path to Treaty Bill 2023, joint submission with ANTAR and ANTaR Queensland

Queensland Parliament Community Support and Services Committee

Report

23 March 2023
Open letter: Reform of Australia’s discriminatory migration health laws Federal Parliament 21 March 2023
Tasmanian national preventive mechanism Implementation project Consultation paper 1 Tasmanian Government 16 March 2023
Aviation White Paper Terms of Reference Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts 9 March 2023
2023 Review of the Operation of the Queensland Workers' Compensation Scheme

Queensland Workers' Compensation Regulatory Services, Office of Industrial Relations

Report

7 March 2023
Review of the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2010 (Qld)

The Honourable Alan Wilson KC and the Queensland Government’s Department of Justice and Attorney-General

Report

24 February 2023
Strengthening Community Safety Bill 2023

Queensland Parliament Economics and Governance Committee

Report

23 February 2023

Religious Educational Institutions and Anti-Discrimination Laws

The Australian Law Reform Commission

Background Paper 1: International Comparisons (November 2023)

Background Paper 2: What We Heard (November 2023)

23 February 2023
Scoping the establishment of a Federal Judicial Commission The Attorney-General’s Department 21 February 2023
Access to offenders’ superannuation for victims and survivors of child sexual abuse The Federal Treasury 15 February 2023

Inquiry into the Public Interest Disclosure Amendment (Review) Bill 2022

Hearing testimony by Graham Droppert SC representing the ALA (pp.17-25)

Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee

Report

19 January 2023
Australia’s illicit drug problem: Challenges and opportunities for law enforcement Joint Committee on Law Enforcement 19 December 2022
Consultation regarding current advertising restrictions in the Personal Injuries Proceedings Act 2002 (Qld) The Hon. Shannon Fentiman MP, Queensland Attorney-General 16 December 2022
Capability and Culture of the NDIA

Joint Standing Committee on the NDIS

Interim Report

Final Report

15 December 2022
Open letter: Concerns about NSW anti-protest laws and jailing of climate activist New South Wales Government 13 December 2022
Open letter: Proposing a Human Rights Law for South Australia South Australian Government 9 December 2022
Public consultation - Regulation of medical practitioners who provide cosmetic medical and surgical procedures The Medical Board of Australia

9 December 2022

Missing and murdered First Nations women and children

Joint ANTAR & ALA submission 24 Nov 2022

Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee 10 November 2022
Joint statement of concern regarding suspension of UN Subcommittee on Torture visit to Australia Federal, State and Territory Governments 24 October 2022
National Anti-Corruption Commission Bill 2022

Joint Select Committee on National Anti-Corruption Commission Legislation

Report

14 October 2022
Bail: Show cause offences & the unacceptable risk test

New South Wales Law Reform
Commission

Report

28 September 2022
Open letter on decriminalising cannabis use Premier Daniel Andrews and the Victorian Government 28 September 2022
Consultation on the Integrity Commission Act 2009 legislative reform discussion paper Tasmanian Department of Justice 26 September 2022
Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld) Review Office of Industrial Relations, Queensland 23 September 2022
Legislative Responses to Coercive Control
in Western Australia (Discussion Paper)
WA Department of Justice –
Commissioner for Victims of Crime
7 September 2022

Inquiry into the decriminalisation of
certain public offences, and health and
welfare responses

Hearing testimony by Greg Barns SC representing the ALA (pp.22-25)

Community Support and Services Committee (Queensland)

Report

22 August 2022
Investigation into WorkSafe self-insurers

Victorian Ombudsman

Report

15 August 2022
Inquiry into access to services and information in Auslan

ACT Legislative Assembly’s Education and Community Inclusion Committee

Report

28 July 2022

Tasmanian Drug Strategy 2022-2027

Annexure: Proposed Misuse of Drugs (Cannabis Decriminalisation) Bill 2021

Mental Health, Alcohol and Drug Directorate; Department of Health (Tasmania) 25 July 2022
Domestic Application of the UNDRIP

The Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee

Report

22 June 2022
Costs Recovery Guidelines – Issues Paper Transport Accident Commission, Victoria 2 June 2022
Inquiry into the Esther Foundation and
unregulated private health facilities

Parliament of Western Australia Education and Health Standing Committee

Report

Government response

2 June 2022

Health Practitioner Regulation National Law and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2022

Hearing Testimony by Lidia Monteverdi, representing ALA's Medical Law Special Interest Group (pp.5-6)

Additional Evidence (submitted 9 June)

Queensland Parliament Health and Environment Committee

Report

1 June 2022

ALA Federal Election 2022 Survey Report

ALA Survey Report 19 May 2022

2022 Australian Federation of Travel Agents Charter Review

Australian Federation of Travel Agents

Report and AFTA Response

6 May 2022

Inquiry into the Road Transport Amendment (Medicinal Cannabis - Exemptions from Offences) Bill 2021

Hearing Testimony by Greg Barns SC representing the ALA, 16 June 2022 (pp.31-37)

New South Wales Legislative Council Standing Committee on Law and Justice

Report

29 April 2022

Personal Injuries Proceedings and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2022 – PIPA, WCRA and LPA claims farming

Queensland Parliament Legal Affairs and Safety Committee 22 April 2022

Police Offences Amendment (Workplace Protection) Bill 2022

Tasmanian Department of Justice 20 April 2022

Inquiry into Petition 32-21 (No Rights Without Remedy)

ACT Legislative Assembly Standing Committee on Justice and Community Safety

Report

7 April 2022
QLD CTP Industry Stakeholders Submission Motor Accident Insurance Commission (Qld) 3 March 2022

Reforming Tasmania's youth justice system

Department of Communities Tasmania 2 March 2022
Amendments to the Industrial Relations Act 2016 (Qld) Office of Industrial Relations, Queensland 25 February 2022

Review of Queensland's Anti-Discrimination Act

Discussion paper

Queensland Human Rights Commission

Report

February 2022

Proposed reforms to Personal Injuries (Liabilities and Damages) Act 2003 (NT)

Northern Territory Attorney-General's Department 18 January 2022
Review of the operation and effectiveness of the serious violent offences scheme under the Penalties and Sentences Act 1992 (Qld)

Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council

Report

25 November 2021

Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2021

NSW Legislative Council Standing Committee on Law and Justice 18 November 2021

Inspector of Detention Services Bill 2021

Annexure: Sisters Inside Submission on the QLD Inspector of Detention Services Bill 2021

Queensland Parliament Legal and Safety Committee review of the Inspector of Detention Services Bill 18 November 2021

Facing the facts – The urgent need for further regulation of cosmetic procedures advertising

ALA Policy Report 16 November 2021

Working with Children (Indigenous Communities) Amendment Bill 2021

Queensland Parliament Legal Affairs and Safety Committee 16 November 2021
QLD CTP Industry Stakeholders Submission Motor Accident Insurance Commission, Queensland 9 November 2021
Performance and integrity of Australia's administrative review system Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee 5 November 2021

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Participant Service Guarantee and Other Measures) Bill 2021

Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee 5 November 2021

Review of Police Powers and Responsibilities and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2021

Queensland Parliament, Legal Affairs and Safety Committee 12 October 2021
The Criminal Law (Raising the Age of Responsibility) Amendment Bill 2021 Queensland Parliament Community Support and Services Committee 8 October 2021

Proposed National Disability Insurance Scheme legislative improvements and the Participant Service Guarantee

Australian Government Department of Social Services 7 October 2021
Family Violence Reforms Bill 2021 Tasmanian Department of Justice 7 October 2021
Inquiry into the Justice Legislation (COVID-19 Emergency Response – Permanency) Amendment Bill 2021 Queensland Parliament State Development and Regional Industries Committee 24 September 2021

Workplaces (Protection from Protesters) Amendment Bill 2021

Tasmanian Department of Justice 20 September 2021
Crimes Amendment (Remissions of Sentences) Bill 2021 Federal, Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee 13 September 2021
Construction of a mandatory reporting requirement for lawyers

Office to the General Counsel, Victorian Department of Justice and Community Safety

8 September 2021
A proposed bill for Tasmania: Misuse of Drugs (Cannabis Decriminalisation) Bill 2021 Tasmania 2 September 2021
Ministerial Taskforce on Workplace Sexual Harassment Ministerial Taskforce 31 August 2021

Response to Consultation Paper: Options to broaden the permitted uses of body-worn camera footage in Victoria

Annexure: Letter from the Attorney-General to ALA

Victorian Department of Justice and Community Safety 26 July 2021
Options for legislating against coercive control and the creation of a standalone domestic violence offence Women’s Safety and Justice Taskforce, Queensland Government 8 July 2021

Inquiry into the Public Health and Other Legislation (Further Extension of Expiring Provisions) Amendment Bill 2021

Economics and
Governance Committee, Queensland Parliament
1 July 2021
Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2021

Health and Environment Committee, Queensland Parliament

1 July 2021

Coronial Jurisdiction in New South Wales

Select Committee on the Coronial Jurisdiction in New South Wales, Parliament of New South Wales

Report

25 June 2021
Inquiry into serious vilification and hate crimes Legal Affairs and Safety Committee, Queensland Parliament 7 June 2021

Serious violent offences (SVO) scheme review – call for preliminary feedback

Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council

20 May 2021

Proposed reforms to expand Police Use of Body Worn Cameras in Private Contexts

Justice and Community Safety Directorate, ACT Government

13 May 2021

Inquiry into the Drugs of Dependence (Personal Use) Amendment Bill 2021

Annexure: More Harm than Good – The need for a health focused legal response to drug use

Select Committee on the Drugs Of Dependence (Personal Use) Amendment Bill 2021, Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory

6 May 2021

Inquiry into the Management of Child Sex Offender Information

Legislative Council, Legal and Social Issues Committee, Parliament of Victoria 29 April 2021
Review of section 293 of the Criminal Procedure Act 1986 New South Wales Department of Communities and Justice 22 March 2021
Bail Bill 2021 Office of Strategic Legislation and Policy, Department of Justice, Tasmanian Government 22 March 2021

Response to the Interim Report to the Australian Government on Indigenous Voice Co-Design Process

Indigenous Voice Co-Design Process

22 March 2021

Youth Justice and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2021

Legal Affairs and Safety Committee, Queensland Parliament

Report

8 March 2021
Doing More Harm Than Good: The need for a health-focused approach to drug use ALA policy report 4 March 2021

Online Safety Bill

Senate Standing Committees on Environment and Communications, Parliament of Australia

Report

1 March 2021

Exposure draft of the Online Safety Bill

Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications, Australian Government 15 February 2021

Child Safe Organisations Bill 2020

Child Abuse Royal Commission Response Unit, Department of Justice, Tasmanian Government

15 February 2021

Criminal Code Amendment (Judge Alone Trials) Bill 2020

Department of Justice, Tasmanian Government

8 February 2021

Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Conversion Practices – Issues Paper No 31

Tasmania Law Reform Institute

3 February 2021

Inquiry into health outcomes and access to health and hospital services in rural, regional and remote New South Wales

Submission partially redacted for confidentiality.

Testimony from Catherine Henry on behalf of the ALA on 3 December 2021 (pp.10-16)

Portfolio Committee No. 2 – Health, Parliament of NSW

Report

1 February 2021
Custodial Inspector Amendment (OPCAT) Bill

Office of Strategic Legislation and Policy, Department of Justice, Tasmanian Government

11 December 2020

A legal framework for voluntary assisted dying – Consultation paper

Queensland Law Reform Commission

17 November 2020

Review of the Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment (High Risk Terrorist Offenders) Bill 2020

Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, Parliament of Australia 27 October 2020

Youth Justice Amendment (Searches in Custody) Bill 2020

Office of Strategic Legislation and Policy, Department of Justice, Tasmanian Government

22 October 2020
Consultation on the Monetary Penalties Enforcement Amendment Bill 2020

Office of Strategic Legislation and Policy, Department of Justice, Tasmanian Government

23 September 2020

Current and former copyright and licensing arrangements for the Aboriginal Flag design

Select Committee on the Aboriginal Flag, Parliament of Australia

Report

18 September 2020
Review of the sentencing for offences involving assaults on police officers, correctional staff, youth justice officers, emergency services workers and health workers NSW Sentencing Council 14 September 2020

Criminal Code (Consent and Mistake of Fact) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2020

Legal Affairs and Community Safety Committee, Queensland Parliament

7 September 2020

Justice Miscellaneous (Court Backlog and Related Matters) Bill 2020

Office of Strategic Legislation and Policy, Department of Justice, Tasmanian Government

2 September 2020
Review of the Expungement of Historical Offences Act 2017 Independent reviewer 31 August 2020

Police Offences Amendment (Repeal of Begging) Bill 2019

Tasmanian Legislative Council 27 August 2020
Comments on the Civil Liability (Institutional Child Abuse Liability) Amendment Bill 2020 South Australian Attorney-General 25 August 2020

Inquiry into First Nations people in custody in New South Wales

Subsequent appearance at online public hearing on 26 October 2020. (Dr Louis Schetzer can be read from p3.)

Select Committee on the High Level of First Nations People in Custody and Oversight and Review of Deaths in Custody, Parliament of NSW

Report

24 August 2020

Third open letter to Australian governments on COVID-19 and the criminal justice system

Australian governments 8 August 2020

Inquiry into the Use of Cannabis in Victoria

Legal and Social Issues Committee, Parliament of Victoria

5 August 2020
Joint submission: Corrections Amendment (Electronic Monitoring) Bill 2020

Strategic Legislation and Policy, Department of Justice, Tasmanian Government

31 July 2020

Inquiry into the impact of technological and other change on the future of work and workers in New South Wales

Select committee on the impact of technological and other change on the future of work and workers in New South Wales, Parliament of NSW

24 July 2020
Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability – Rights and Attitudes

Commissioners, Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability

22 July 2020

Inquiry into family, domestic and sexual violence

House Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs, Parliament of Australia

Report

17 July 2020

Review of Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Amendment Bill 2020

Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, Parliament of Australia 23 June 2020
Joint submission for the report of the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples to the General Assembly — Impact of COVID-19 on indigenous peoples

Mr Francisco Calí Tzay, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples

Report

19 June 2020
Penalties for assaults on public officers Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council 18 June 2020

Inquiry into litigation funding and the regulation of the class action industry

Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services, Parliament of Australia

8 June 2020
Review of the Migration Amendment (Prohibiting Items in Immigration Detention Facilities) Bill 2020

Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee, Parliament of Australia

Report

5 June 2020

Joint submission: OPCAT, places of detention and COVID-19

Select Committee on COVID-19, Parliament of Australia

27 May 2020

COVID-19 Omnibus (Emergency Measures) Bill 2020

The Honourable Jill Hennessy, Attorney-General and Minister for Workplace Safety, Victorian Government

22 April 2020
Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability Commissioners, Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability 20 April 2020
Evidence (Children and Special Witnesses) Amendment Bill 2020 Department of Justice, Tasmanian Government 16 April 2020
Australia’s Human Rights Scorecard: Australia’s 2020 United Nations UPR NGO Coalition Report Australia's third Universal Periodic Review 9 April 2020
Second open letter to Australian governments on COVID-19 and the criminal justice system Australian governments 8 April 2020
Safe Climate Bill 2020 Tasmanian Greens Party 23 March 2020
Open letter to Australian governments on COVID-19 and the criminal justice system Australian governments 20 March 2020
Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability – the Criminal Justice System

Commissioners, Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability

12 March 2020
Setting aside deeds of release in respect of institutional abuse victims The Honourable Mark Speakman SC MP, NSW Attorney General 10 March 2020
Age of Criminal Responsibility Working Group Review Council of Attorneys-General 13 February 2020

Sentencing Amendment (Dangerous Criminals and High Risk Offenders) Bill 2020

Tasmanian Department of Justice 12 February 2020
Renaming Sexual Offences in Chapter XIV of the Criminal Code Act 1924 Tasmanian Department of Justice Child Abuse Royal Commission Response Unit 7 February 2020
Evidence Amendment Bill 2020: Section 194K ‘Publication of certain identifying particulars prohibited’ Tasmanian Department of Justice 7 February 2020

Current barriers to patient access to medicinal cannabis in Australia

The ALA did not provide a submission to this inquiry, however presented the above evidence at a hearing in Melbourne on 29 January 2020. (Dr Teresa Nicoletti can be read from p13.)

Parliament of Australia, Senate Standing Committees on Community

Report

29 January 2020
Religious freedom reforms 2nd exposure drafts Australian Government Attorney-General’s Department 28 January 2020
Consent laws and the excuse of mistake of fact Queensland Law Reform Commission 27 January 2020
Penalties for assaults on police and other frontline emergency service workers, corrective service officers and other public officers

Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council

Report

10 January 2020
Native Title Legislation Amendment Bill 2019

Parliament of Australia, Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee

Report

28 November 2019

Inquiry into the Criminal Procedure Amendment (Trial by Judge Alone) Bill 2017

Supplementary submission

Inquiry into the Criminal Procedure Amendment (Trial by Judge Alone) Bill 2017 (submitted 4 December 2019)

Parliament of Western Australia, Legislative Council Standing Committee on Legislation

Report

21 November 2019
Open letter — Urgent action is required on the investigation of police corruption and misconduct in Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews, Parliament of Victoria 15 November 2019
Conversion Practices — Legislative Option to Implement a Ban Victorian Department of Justice and Community Safety 13 November 2019
Maintenance and Champerty in Western Australia — Project No 110: Discussion Paper Law Reform Commission of Western Australia — Project No 110 8 November 2019
Justice Legislation Amendments (Criminal Responsibility) Bill 2019 Tasmanian Department of Justice 4 November 2019
Consent in relation to sexual assault offences NSW Law Reform Commission — Draft proposals 31 October 2019
Consent laws and the excuse of mistake of fact Queensland Law Reform Commission 15 October 2019

Inquiry into Centrelink Compliance Program

Prior appearance at public hearing in Melbourne on 9 October 2019. (Greg Barns can be read from p1.)

Parliament of Australia, Senate Standing Committees on Community Affairs

Interim Report

9 October 2019
Juries, Social Media and the Rights of an Accused to a Fair Trial

Tasmanian Law Reform Institute

Report

1 October 2019
Criminal Code Amendment (Sexual Crimes Against Children in Community Protection Measures) Bill 2019 Parliament of Australia, Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee 25 September 2019
Nationhood, National Identity and Democracy

Parliament of Australia, Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee

Report

18 September 2019

Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety

Additional submissions

Workforce submissions (submitted 4 December 2019)

Program design submissions (submitted 24 January 2020)

Commissioners, Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety

Interim report

Final report

6 September 2019
Combatting Child Sexual Exploitation Legislation Amendment Bill 2019 [Provisions]

Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee

Report

12 August 2019
Justice Legislation (Organisational Liability for Child Abuse) Amendment Bill 2019 – Draft legislation Tasmanian Department of Justice 29 July 2019

Impact on the exercise of law enforcement and intelligence powers on the freedom of the press

Subsequent appearance at public hearing in Canberra on 20 September 2019. (Greg Barns can be read from p14.)

Subsequent response to questions on notice from public hearing, submitted on 3 October 2019.

Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security 24 July 2019
Inquiry into the Youth Justice and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2019

Legal Affairs and Community Safety Committee, Queensland Parliament

Report

11 July 2019
Alternative model for the appointment of costs assessors Supreme Court of Queensland and District Court of Queensland 21 June 2019
Review of the Defence of Insanity in s16 of the Criminal Code and Fitness to Plead

Tasmania Law Reform Institute

Report

6 June 2019
Safe Access Zones – Proposal for reform in Western Australia

Office of the Chief Health Officer, Department of Health

Report

30 May 2019
A suitable legislative framework for termination of pregnancy in South Australia

South Australia Law Reform Institute

Report

30 May 2019
Section 194K Evidence Act 2001 Tasmanian Department of Justice 9 May 2019

Magistrates Court (Criminal and General Division) Bill 2019

Tasmanian Department of Justice 9 May 2019

Inquiry into aged care, end-of-life and palliative care and voluntary assisted dying

Subsequent appearance at public hearing in Brisbane on 5 July 2019. (Sarah Vallance can be read from p4.)

Health, Communities, Disability Services and Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Committee, Queensland Parliament

Report

16 April 2019
Inquiry into the Youth Justice and Related Legislation Amendment Bill 2019

Social Policy Scrutiny Committee

Report

15 April 2019

Combatting Child Sexual Exploitation Legislation Amendment Bill 2019

Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee

Report

1 March 2019
Consent in relation to sexual assault offences NSW Law Reform Commission 31 January 2019
Inquiry into the Sex Discrimination Amendment (Removing Discrimination Against Students) Bill 2018

Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee

Report

13 December 2018
Legislative exemptions that allow faith-based educational institutions to discriminate against students, teachers and staff

Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs

Report

15 November 2018

Regulation of Australia's health professions: keeping the National Law up to date and fit for purpose – Consultation Paper

COAG Health Council

30 October 2018
Criminal Code and Related Legislation Amendment Bill 2018 – Draft legislation Tasmanian Department of Justice Royal Commission Response Unit 25 October 2018
Police Offences Amendment (Consorting) Bill 2018 Tasmanian House of Assembly and
Legislative Council
19 September 2018

My Health Records Amendment (Strengthening Privacy) Bill 2018

Senate Standing Committees on Community Affairs

Report

10 September 2018
Family Violence Reforms Bill 2018 Tasmania Department of Justice 29 August 2018
Statutory Review of the Tribunals Amalgamation Act 2015

Australian Government Attorney-General’s Department

Report

23 August 2018
Review of Criminal Injuries Scheme in Western Australia Western Australia Department of Justice 23 August 2018

Cosmetic Health Service Complaints in New South Wales

The ALA did not provide a submission to this inquiry, however presented the above evidence at a hearing in Sydney on 1 August 2018.

Committee on the Health Care Complaints Commission, Parliament of NSW

Report

1 August 2018

Defence Amendment (Call Out of the Australian Defence Force) Bill 2018

Senate Standing Committees on Legal and Constitutional Affairs

Report

26 July 2018

Inquiry into Class Action Proceedings and Third-Party Litigation Funders (DP 85)

Australian Law Reform Commission

Report

25 July 2018

Consent in relation to sexual assault cases

Our submission refers to the following report:

Innovative justice responses to sexual offending – pathways to better outcomes for victims, offenders and the community

NSW Law Reform Commission 29 June 2018
Inquiry into Constitutional Recognition relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples

Joint Select Committee on
Constitutional Recognition relating to Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander Peoples

Interim Report

Final Report

12 June 2018

Inquiry into the adequacy and scope of special care offences under the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW)

Subsequent appearance at public hearing in Sydney on 27 June 2018. (Andrew Morrison RFD, SC can be read from p24.)

Standing Committee on Law and Justice

Report

29 May 2018

Organised Criminal Groups Legislation Discussion Paper

In response to the introduction of the Police Offences Amendment (Prohibited Insignia) Bill 2018 on 21 August 2018, the ALA have proposed an alternative Proscription of Organisations Bill.

Legislation and Development Review Services

11 May 2018

Judiciary Amendment (Commonwealth
Model Litigant Obligations) Bill 2017

Subsequent appearance at public hearing in Sydney on 14 June 2018. Dr Andrew Morrison RFD AC can be read from p20.

Senate Legal and Constitutional
Affairs Committee

Report

March 2018
Review of the Terrorism (Preventative Detention) Act 2005

Crime and Corruption Commission Queensland

Report

29 March 2018
Commonwealth Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse Bill 2017 and related Bill Senate Standing Committees on Community Affairs 2 February 2018

Review of the National Security Legislation Amendment (Espionage and Foreign Interference) Bill 2017

Supplementary Submission:

  1. Comments on Parliamentary Amendments (submitted 13 March 2018)

Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security

Report

22 January 2018
Review of police stop, search and seizure powers, the control order regime and the preventative detention order regime

Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security

Report

16 October 2017
NSW Government consultation in relation to the civil litigation recommendations of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse Justice, Strategy and Policy; NSW Department of Justice 4 September 2017

The Future of Public Interest Journalism

Subsequent appearance at public hearing in Sydney on 27 November 2017. Dr Andrew Morrison RFD SC and Ms Anna Talbot can be read from p7.

Senate Select Committee on Public Interest Journalism

Report

15 June 2017
Criminal Code Amendment (Protecting Minors Online) Bill 2017

Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs

Report

4 May 2017
Proposed amendments to the Health Ombudsman Act 2013 (QLD) Queensland Health 7 April 2017
Case Study 51: policies and procedures of the Commonwealth government in relation to child-protection and child-safety standards, including responding to allegations of child sexual abuse (Comments in relation to immigration detention)

Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse

Report

1 March 2017
Letter responding to the proposed Evidence (Tendency and Coincidence) Model Provisions circulated by the Royal Commission in November 2016 Royal Commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse 2 December 2016

Criminal Justice: Response to Consultation Paper

Subsequent appearance at public hearing in Sydney on 1 December 2016. Dr Andrew Morrison RFD SC can be read from p24169.

Royal Commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse 31 October 2016
Criminal Code Amendment (High Risk Terrorist Offenders) Bill 2016 Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security 12 October 2016
Issues Paper: The civil litigation recommendations of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse: Redress and Civil Litigation Report – understanding the Queensland context Queensland Department of Justice and Attorney-General October 2016
Community Reporting (Offender Reporting) Amendment Bill: paper outlining concerns Parliament of Tasmania 21 September 2016

Limitation of Actions (institutional Child Sexual Abuse) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2016 and the Limitation of Actions and Other Legislation (Child Abuse Civil Proceedings) Amendment Bill 2016

Appendix 1

Parliament of Queensland Legal Affairs and Community Safety Committee 16 September 2016
Inquiry into the performance of the Queensland Health Ombudsman’s functions pursuant to section 179 of the Health
Ombudsman Act 2013
Health, Communities, Disability Services and
Domestic and Family Violence Prevention
Committee of the Queensland Parliament
8 August 2016

Submission in response to Issues Paper 11 - Catholic Church

Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse 1 July 2016
Guardianship Act review NSW Law Reform Commission 8 April 2016

Legislative Council Committee System

NSW Legislative Council Select Committee

on the Legislative Council Committee System

7 April 2016
Issues Paper 8: experiences of police and prosecution responses Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Issues Paper 8; Experience of police and prosecution responses 12 June 2015
Statutory victims of crime compensation schemes: Issues Paper 7 Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse,Issues Paper 7 30 June 2014
Redress Schemes: Issues Paper 6 Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Issues Paper 6 29 May 2014

Access to justice, Feedback on draft inquiry report

Productivity Commission, Inquiry into Access to Justice 28 May 2014
Access to Justice Productivity Commission, Inquiry into Access to Justice 8 November 2013
Preventing Sexual Abuse of Children in Out-Of-Home Care: Issues Paper 4 Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Issues Paper 4 1 November 2013
Towards Healing: Issues Paper 2 Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Issues Paper 2 4 September 2013