The Community Law Reform Program was set up in 1982. Under the Program, members of the community are invited to suggest areas where they believe law reform is needed.
Can I make suggestions to the Commission about areas of the law that I think need to be changed?
Yes. Members of the community and community organisations are invited to contact the Law Reform Commission and make suggestions about area of the law that they think need to be changed. For example, if you think there is an area of the law that is creating hardship or difficulties within the community or laws which need to be simplified or modernised, you may want to suggest it is reviewed under the Community Law Reform Program. The Contact us webpage provides the ways you can make your suggestions.
How does the Community Law Reform Program work?
The New South Wales Law Reform Commission regularly receives suggestions for law reform from judges, legal practitioners and members of the community. Some matters coming to the Commission's attention through the media have been considered as part of the Community Law Reform Program.
What areas of Law are looked at under the Community Law Reform Program?
In past years the Community Law Reform Program has looked at a wide variety of matters including insurance law, conscientious objection to jury service, wills, liability for injuries caused by dogs, dividing fences, and neighbour-and-neighbour disputes caused by noise, trees and rights of way. Click here for a full list of Community Law Reform Program references.
The Program has limited resources and not all of the suggestions made can be considered.
An initial investigation is conducted by the Commission’s staff of suggestions from the community that appear the most likely prospect for reform.
The Community Law Reform Program generally does not consider suggestions that are
- too complex for the limited resources of the Community Law Reform Program,
- already being reviewed by the Attorney General's Department or some other government department or agency,
- likely to involve contentious policy issues, or a range of economic, social or other matters outside the range of legal reform, and
- otherwise unsuitable for example, where the matter fails within an area of Commonwealth responsibility.
If preliminary investigation indicates that there is a case for taking a matter further a background paper is prepared outlining the issues involved. This is then sent to the Attorney General who decides whether it is an appropriate matter for a detailed inquiry and whether a formal reference should be made.
Go to the Our approach to law reform page to find out more about how the law reform process works.
It is generally expected that matters under the Community Law Reform Program will be completed within twelve months.
Can I get legal advice through the Community Law Reform Program?
No. The task of the Commission is to examine the underlying causes of dissatisfaction with the law or its administration and to make proposals for reform. The Commission welcomes your participation by referring these matters to us. The Commission may not, however, offer legal advice or intervene in individual cases. If you require legal assistance you should contact LawAccess NSW. LawAccess NSW is a free service providing a single point of access to legal assistance services to the people of New South Wales.
Can I comment on proposals for law reform made by the Commission?
Yes. The Commission publishes issues papers, discussion papers and/or research reports on topics referred to it by the Attorney General. Members of the community can comment on any of these papers issued by the Commission. Current papers that are available for public comment are listed on the Recent news page.
