Justice gap must be bridged
On National Close the Gap Day (17 March 2022), the Law Council of Australia urged all sectors of the justice system, including governments, to urgently work together to close the justice gap faced by First Nations peoples and implement the recommendations now made in countless Royal Commissions and inquiries on Aboriginal deaths in custody and over-incarceration rates.
The Law Council called for the Justice Policy Partnership announced under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap to be given the mandate and resources necessary to ensure that the recommended critical legal and policy reforms across all jurisdictions are implemented. Read the Law Council's media release here.
Appointment of Freedom of Information Commissioner
The Law Council of Australia welcomes the appointment of Mr Leo Hardiman as the Freedom of Information Commissioner and looks forward to working with him following his commencement next month. Read more.
ALRC Review of the Legislative Framework for Corporations and Financial Services Regulation
On 11 March 2022, the Law Council made a submission to the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) in response to Interim Report A of its Review of the Legislative Framework for Corporations and Financial Services Legislation. In its submission, the Law Council supports measures to appropriately simplify the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), particularly Chapter 7, to improve regulatory coherence and certainty for users of this legislative framework. In addition to specifically responding to the ALRC’s questions and proposals, the Law Council stresses in its submission that the ALRC may wish to further consider the ‘big picture’ of what could be achieved by this Inquiry, and
notes that the current Terms of Reference – which contemplate technical and structural amendments, but not policy changes – may be unduly restrictive in this regard.
IBA Annual Conference Scholarships
The International Bar Association (IBA) has recently opened its 2022 Annual Conference Scholarships, in particular its Asia Pacific Regional Forum is seeking essays on the topic of 'Where does your jurisdiction stand on the issuance of CBDC (Central Bank Digital Currency), and how do you see CBDC affecting the future of money in the Asia Pacific region?'.
The deadline for applications is midnight British Summer Time (BST) on Tuesday, 31 May 2022. For more information visit the IBA website.
LCA Submissions
Recently published Law Council Submissions.
- Review of Division 105A of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth), Independent National Security Legislation Monitor.
- Review of the Security Legislation Amendment (Critical Infrastructure Protection) Bill 2022, Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security.
- Electronic Conveyancing (Adoption of National Law) Amendment Bill 2022 (NSW), Portfolio Committee No. 4 – Customer Service and Natural Resources (Committee).
Supplementary submission: Social Media (Anti-Trolling) Bill 2022 (Cth), Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee.
Section Submissions
Recently published Section Submissions.
- Bankruptcy system – Options Paper January 2022, Attorney-General’s Department, (Business Law Section).
Inquiries and consultations
As of 7 March 2022.
New family dispute resolution services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families - Attorney-General's Department.
The Australian Taxation Office’s Administration and Management of Objections - Inspector-General of Taxation.
Feedback sought on potential new rules for large digital platforms - Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
CP 358 Remaking ASIC relief on PDSs, superannuation dashboards and FSGs - Australian Securities & Investments Commission.
Deceased Estates Inquiry - Banking Code Compliance Committee.
Sharing Economy Reporting Regime - Australian Taxation Office.
News and Media
Media releases/statements:
- Justice gap must be bridged, 17 March 2022.
- Appointment of Freedom of Information Commissioner, 23 March 2022.
Key media articles:
- Parliamentary committee rejects Bill to raise age of criminal responsibility, QLS Proctor, 16 March 2022.
- Electoral rolls key to Indigenous jurors, The Australian, 17 March 2022.
- Social media report calls for regulation, Canberra Times, 17 March 2022.
- Aboriginal Legal Service calls out justice failures on Closing the Gap Day, National Indigenous Times, 18 March 2022.
- Hundreds of Ukrainians arrive in Australia, ABC PM, 23 March 2022.
Upcoming Events
The Law Council of Australia’s Federal Litigation and Dispute Resolution Section will be hosting its annual Immigration Law Conference on 30-31 March 2022 at the Langham Hotel in Melbourne. Online tickets are still available until the midnight tonight (25 March 2022). To register or to learn more about the event, visit the event page here.
