Law reform submissions 2024

Legal Aid’s advocacy work doesn’t stop when we leave the court room. We work hard to identify how the legal system is working for our clients, and where it needs to be better. We meet with, and write to, government and parliament, to make sure they know about the issues that impact our clients. You can see our 2024 submissions below.

General

• Inquiry into the prevalence, causes and impacts of loneliness in NSW (PDF, 923 kb) – Legal Aid NSW submission to the NSW Legislative Council Standing Committee on Social Issues, November 2024
• NSW Drug Summit 2024 (PDF, 327 kb) – Legal Aid NSW submission to the NSW Drug Summit, November 2024
• Inquiry into the health impacts of alcohol and other drugs in Australia (PDF, 611 kb) – Legal Aid NSW submission to House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport, September 2024
• Inquiry into justice responses to sexual violence (PDF, 139 kb) – Legal Aid NSW submission to the Australian Law Reform Commission, June 2024
• Inquiry into community safety in regional and rural communities (PDF, 1.8 mb) – Legal Aid NSW submission to NSW Parliament Legislative Assembly Committee on Law and Safety, May 2024
• Inquiry into children and young people with disability in NSW educational settings (PDF, 834 kb) – Legal Aid NSW submission to Legislative Council Portfolio Committee No. 3 Education, February 2024

Criminal law

• Review of good character in sentencing (PDF, 718 kb) – Legal Aid NSW submission to the NSW Sentencing Council on the operation of section 21A(5A) of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), July 2024
• Inquiry into alcohol consumption in public places (liberalisation) Bill 2024 (PDF, 176 kb) – Legal Aid NSW submission to the Legislative Council Portfolio Committee No. 1 Premier and Finance, July 2024
• Bail compliance checks in NSW (PDF, 742 kb) – Legal Aid NSW submission on the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission Issues Paper, July 2024
• Inquiry into the impact of the regulatory framework for cannabis in NSW (PDF, 779 kb) – Legal Aid NSW submission to the NSW Legislative Council Portfolio Committee No. 1 Premier and Finance, May 2024
• Serious road crime review (PDF, 1.4 mb) – Legal Aid NSW submission to the NSW Law Reform Commission, April 2024
• Serious racial and religious vilification (PDF, 502 kb) – Legal Aid NSW submission to the NSW Law Reform Commission’s review of the effectiveness of section 93Z of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), April 2024

Civil law

• Impact of climate risk on insurance premiums and availability (PDF, 278 kb) – Joint National Legal Aid submission to the Select Committee on the Impact of Climate Risk on Insurance Premiums and Availability, July 2024
• Inquiry into the financial services regulatory framework in relation to financial abuse (PDF, 528 kb) – National Legal Aid submission to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services, June 2024
• Independent review of the General Insurance Code of Practice (GICOP) initial consultation paper (PDF, 377 kb) – Legal Aid NSW submission to the Code Review Panel, June 2024
• Review of the NSW Reconstruction Authority Act 2022 (PDF, 612 kb) – Legal Aid NSW submission to the Joint Select Committee on the NSW Reconstruction Authority, June 2024
• Standardising natural hazard definitions and reviewing standard cover for insurance (PDF, 509 kb) – Legal Aid NSW submission to the Treasury, April 2024

Family law and domestic and family violence

• Family Law Amendment Bill 2024 (PDF, 492 kb) – National Legal Aid submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee, October 2024
• Remake of the Family Law (Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners) Regulations (PDF, 211 kb) – Legal Aid NSW submission to the Attorney-General’s Department, October 2024
• Enhancing civil protections and remedies for forced marriage (PDF, 727 kb) – Legal Aid NSW submission to the Attorney-General’s Department, September 2024