The trend which commenced in the Commission’s 25th Anniversary year has continued to gain momentum throughout the 1990s. The Commission has had small, incremental increases in its Budget each year. Its Budget for 1997/98 was $1.32 million. This has resulted in a gradual increase in the size of the Commission. At the end of the 1990s the Commission was constituted by a part-time Chairperson and deputy Chairperson, one full-time Commissioner and 14 part-time Commissioners. In addition to the Executive Director, Peter Hennessy, there were 14 full-time and part-time staff, 9 of whom had legal qualifications.

The Commission’s workload has also increased significantly throughout the 1990s. In late 1991 the Commision received eight references from the Attorney General and has received a further 20 new references since. Major projects completed include a review of the Adoption of Children Act 1965, People with an Intellectual Disability and the Criminal Justice System, Defamation, Sentencing (phase 1) and a review of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977. At the end of the 1990s the Commission had 11 active project.

A significant reason for the Commission’s continued growth and increased status has been the leadership provided by successive Chairpersons, Hon RM Hope QC CMG (1990 - 1993), Hon Gordon J Samuels QC (later Governor of New South Wales) (1993-1996) and Justice Michael Adams (1996 to date) and full-time Commissioners, Professor David Weisbrot (1990-1993), Professor Michael Tilbury (1994-1996; 2002 to date), Professor Jack Goldring (1997-1998) and Professor Reg Graycar (1998 to 2002). This together with the significant input of part-time Commissioners has ensured that the high quality of the Commission’s work is maintained.