Pre-election advocacy

Ahead of federal elections and certain state/territory elections, the ALA poses questions to the major and key minor parties on policy areas of particular interest to the ALA's membership. Our pre-election surveys since 2016 can be found below.


ACT Election 2024

Ahead of the 19 October 2024 Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Election and after consultation with ALA members based in the ACT, the ALA has released our ‘Call-to-Parties’ featuring the following five areas of policy and law reform for consideration by all parties vying for election or re-election:

(1) The ACT’s Motor Accident Injuries Scheme, (2) ACT Courts, (3) rights for victim survivors of institutional child sexual abuse, (4) Voluntary Assisted Dying, and (5) Limitations law reform.

Click here to read the ALA ACT Election 2024 Call-to-Parties.


Queensland State Election 2024

Ahead of the 26 October 2024 Queensland State Election and after consultation with ALA members based in Queensland, the ALA has released ‘The Australian Lawyers Alliance’s Queensland State Election Call-to-Parties’.

The ALA’s Call-to-Parties features the following six areas of policy and law reform matters for consideration by parties and independent candidates vying for election or re-election: (1) Queensland’s Compulsory Third Party insurance scheme, (2) workers’ compensation in Queensland, (3) rights for victim survivors of institutional child sexual abuse, (4) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander justice, (5) advertising restrictions for personal injury law services, and (6) raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility.

Click here to read the ALA Queensland Election 2024 Call-to-Parties.


Northern Territory Election 2024

Ahead of the 24 August 2024 Northern Territory Election and after consultation with ALA members based in the Northern Territory, the ALA has released ‘The Australian Lawyers Alliance’s Northern Territory Election Call-to-Parties’.

The ALA’s Call-to-Parties features the following four areas of policy and law reform matters for consideration by parties and independent candidates vying for election or re-election: (1) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander justice, (2) abuse law reform, (3) protecting human rights and freedoms in the Northern Territory, and (4) raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility.

Click here to read the ALA Northern Territory Election 2024 Call-to-Parties.


Tasmanian State Election 2024

Ahead of the (surprise) 23 March 2024 Tasmanian State Election, the ALA released ‘The Australian Lawyers Alliance’s Tasmanian State Election 2024 Call-to-Parties’ for consideration by major parties, key minor parties and independent candidates vying for election or re-election. It features the following eight areas of policy and law reform matters:

(1) Permanent stays in institutional child sexual abuse cases; (2) resolving delays in finalising coronial matters; (3) addressing birth trauma and the need for greater resourcing of maternal health services; (4) removal of statute of limitations for forced adoption claims; (5) protecting human rights and freedoms in Tasmania; (6) Tasmania’s integrity framework; (7) a Criminal Procedure Act for Tasmania; (8) criminal justice reform

Click here to read the ALA Tasmanian State Election 2024 Call-to-Parties.


New South Wales State Election 2023

Ahead of the NSW State Election in March 2023, we surveyed the major parties and key minor parties on eight policy areas:

(1) Dangerous recreational activity provisions in the Civil Liability Act 2002; (2) Raising the age of criminal responsibility; (3) Discount rates; (4) Trustee and Guardianship fees; (5) Workers compensation and future treatment expenses; (6) NSW Compulsory Third Party (CTP) scheme; (7) Voice to Parliament; and (8) excessive permanent stays in relation to child sexual abuse.

Click here to read the ALA NSW State Election 2023 Survey Report.


Victorian State Election 2022

Ahead of the Victorian State Election in November 2022, we surveyed the major parties and key minor parties on six policy areas:

(1) Common law entitlements for injured Victorians; (2) Raising the age of criminal responsibility; (3) Legislative solutions to inadequate e-scooter insurance protections; (4) Reform needed to help blameless transport workers involved in accidents; (5) Compensation for victims of dog bites or attacks; and (6) Timeframe needed for determining medical services claims.

Click here to read the ALA Victorian State Election 2022 Survey Report.


Federal Election 2022

In advance of the federal election in May 2022, the ALA surveyed the major parties and key crossbench Senators vying for re-election on five core policies important to our members:

(1) The NDIS; (2) A First Nations Voice to Parliament; (3) A Federal Independent Corruption Commission; (4) Human rights protections; and (5) The Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry.

Click here to read the ALA Federal Election 2022 Survey Report.


Federal Election 2019

Ahead of the federal election in May 2019, the ALA surveyed major parties on nine major policy issues:

(1) Human rights protections; (2) Access to justice — class action proceedings; (3) Access to justice — funding for community legal centres; (4) Insurance and mental illness; (5) Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry; (6) The NDIS; (7) A National Redress Scheme; (8) Comcare; and (9) Work Health and Safety.

Click here to read the ALA Federal Election 2019 survey responses.


Federal Election 2016

In advance of the federal double dissolution election in July 2016, the ALA surveyed parties on six priority issues for our members:

(1) NDIS/NIIS; (2) Comcare; (3) The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse; (4) Insurance and superannuation; (5) Access to justice; and (6) Work health and safety

We outlined our main priorities, ALA policy on those priorities and asked key questions to gauge parties' positions on those priorities.

Click here to read the ALA Federal Election 2016 survey responses.