NEW SOUTH WALES LAW REFORM COMMISSION

To the Honourable J R A Dowd LLB, MP,

Attorney General for New South Wales

NAMES

REGISTRATION AND CERTIFICATION OF BIRTHS AND DEATHS

Dear Attorney General,

We make this Report pursuant to the reference from the Honourable T W Sheahan BA LLB, MP, Attorney General for New South Wales, to this Commission dated 11 November 1985.

Helen Gamble

(Chairman)

Eva Learner

(Commissioner)

Ronald Sackville

(Commissioner)

Terms of Reference

REGISTRATION AND CERTIFICATION OF BIRTHS AND DEATHS

On 11 November 1985, the then Attorney General of New South Wales, the Honourable T W Sheahan, BA LLB, MP, referred the following matters to the Commission for inquiry and report:

1. Criteria for registration of the surname of a child of married and unmarried parents; registration procedures and acknowledgment of paternity in relation to an ex-nuptial child; details to be recorded in relation to births and deaths; provision of certificates omitting potentially embarrassing details appearing in a registration.
2. Any related matter.

Participants

Commissioners

For the purpose of the reference a Division was created by the Chairman in accordance with s12A of the Law Reform Commission Act 1967. The Division when first constituted on 3 April 1986 comprised the following members of the Commission:

Mr Keith Mason QC (Chairman)

Helen Gamble

Eva Learner

Russell Scott

The Division was reconstituted on 19 August 1987 to comprise:

Helen Gamble (Chairman)

Eva Learner

Ronald Sackville

Russell Scott (until 17 June 1988)

Research Director

Williarn J Tearle

Research and Other Assistance

Ms Adrienne Bailey

Ms Laura Beacroft

Mr James Hirshman

Ms Juliet Potts

Mr Mark Robinson

Librarian

Ms Beverley Caska

Word Processing

Ms Annette Boseley

Mrs Nozveen Khan

Ms Joanne Keene

Miss Lucinda Pollard

Miss Doris Sclosa

Secretarial Assistance

Miss Judith Grieves

Ms Glenda Owens

Administrative Assistance

Ms Zoya Howes

Ms Jennifer McMahon