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Print this pageLaw Reform
Law Reform & CLCs
CLCs advocate for reform to unjust laws, policies, and practices. CLCs also advocate for a fairer legal system for disadvantaged people in NSW. Through working with clients, CLCs are well placed to identify laws and policies that are unjust, especially those that affect socially and economically disadvantaged groups
CLCs also provide community education on human rights topics, and promote respect for human rights.
CLCs engage in law reform activities and the promotion of human rights as individual centres, and also collectively (through CLCNSW).
Current projects
- Police accountability - See tabs on the left of this page
- Victims Compensatin Review - See tabs on the left of this page
Recent Submissions, Letters, Reports
- CLCNSW has joined the Australian Inquest Alliance, and supports their call for reform of coronial inquest systems in Australia, as detailed in the Issues Paper: Saving lives by joining up justice: Why Australia needs coronial reform and how to achieve it
- CLCNSW made a submission in support of fee-free silent telephone numbers. The Inquiry into "The feasibility of a prohibition on charging fees for an unlisted number service" is being conducted by the Senate Standing Committee on Environment and Communications.
- The CLCNSW submission on the Child Protection Legislative Reform Discussion Paper (2013) can be found on the webpage we have set up for the sharing of submission.
- CLCNSW endorsed a joint letter by many NGOs urging the Federal Government to pass the Anti-Discrimination Bill 2012.
- CLCNSW has written to the Department of Ageing, Disability and Homecare, urging for the regulation of security deposits, such as bonds, to be added to the draft Boarding Houses Bill.
- CLCNSW has endorsed the Joint NGO Submission to the UN Human Rights Committee on the “List of Issues Prior to Reporting” for Australia.
- CLCNSW submission to the review of Victims Compensation in NSW, in response to the Issues Paper published by PriceWaterhouseCoopers. For the submission and further information see our Victims Compensation Review webpage.
- CLCNSW submission to the Office of Information Commissioner (OIC) about fees and charges under the Government Information (Public Access) Act (GIPA Act). Amongst the recommendations is that section 41(1)(c) of the Act should be amended to clarify that a $30 fee need not accompany the application, if the agency agrees to reduce or waive the fee.
- CLCNSW submission to the Australian Communications and Media Authority about Fair Calls for All (1800, 1300 and 13 numbers)
- CLCNSW submission to the Expert Panel on Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
- CLCNSW submission to the Australian Law Reform Commission's Discussion Paper: Family Violence and Commonwealth Laws, addressing accessibility of the MRT for victims of family violence.
- CLCNSW endorsed an ACOSS statement by community organisations, urging a new approach to asylum seekers and refugees following the High Court ruling about Malaysia.
- CLCNSW endorsed a letter sent from the National Police Accountability Network of NACLC to relevant federal and state/territory ministers about the inadequacy of police complaint systems around Australia, and noting that Recommendation 226 of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody has not been implemented, 20 years on. Associated media release also sent.
- CLCNSW Endorsed: The Youth Justice Coalition's Submission to the 2011 Review of Bail Law, conducted by the NSW Law Reform Commission. The YJC submission is availalbe here
- Abolition of fee waivers in the Migration Review Tribunal - CLCNSW has drawn the injustice of this change to the attention of the Attorney-General (letter), the Minister for Immigration (letter), and the Senate Committee on Regulations and Ordinances.
- CLCNSW has endorsed the Fair Calls for All campaign which is coordinated by the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network. Calls to essential services using 1800, 1300 or 13 numbers from mobile phones should be free or cost a single, untimed, low fee.
- Family Law and Family Violence - Submission to Senate Inquiry into Family Law Legislation Amendment (Family Violence and Other Measures) Bill 2011
- CLCNSW Endorsed: ANTAR’s Call to Action “To reduce the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the criminal justice system”
- Changes to Victims Compensation law - Information Sheet produced by CLCNSW.
- CLCNSW Budget Submission for 2011-2012.
The law reform efforts of individual CLCs can be found in their annual reports.
Archived Submissions, Letters, Reports
2010 - Submissions, Letters, Reports
