From the ALRC President

ALRC President the Hon Justice Mordy Bromberg

Welcome to the latest edition of the ALRC’s In Brief newsletter and the first for 2025, the ALRC’s 50th year.

I’m pleased to be leading the ALRC for this milestone anniversary, which happens to be one of our busiest years with three inquiries running. We are also planning to hold 50th anniversary celebrations and the Australasian Law Reform Agencies Conference in October this year.

Our three current inquiries, encompassing reviews of the future acts regime, human tissue laws, and surrogacy laws, emphasise the unique value of the ALRC as a legal research and policy powerhouse. Being independent of government, led by the evidence, and committed to thorough consultation, the ALRC prides itself on the quality of its work and the value of that work to the Australian community.

I know many of you will also have seen the release of our Final Report in the Inquiry into Justice Responses to Sexual Violence earlier this month. Safe, Informed, Supported: Reforming Justice Responses to Sexual Violence is a critically important Report, which found that overwhelmingly the justice system fails its twin goals of access to justice and accountability.

Our 64 recommendations focus on increasing access to justice, improving justice processes and accountability, and expanding justice pathways for those who have experienced sexual violence. You can read more about the Final Report and its release below.

I’m looking forward to a very full year of engaging law reform work, and hope that you’ll follow along and participate with us.

– Mordy Bromberg

The Hon Justice Mordecai Bromberg
President, Australian Law Reform Commission

The ALRC’s Inquiry into Justice Responses to Sexual Violence has concluded, with the Final Report tabled in Parliament on the 6th of March and now available to the public.

Safe, Informed, Supported: Reforming Justice Responses to Sexual Violence is the culmination of twelve months of research, investigation and consultation on how the justice system’s response to the unique harm of sexual violence can be improved. The Final Report and its 64 recommendations, are a roadmap to addressing the serious challenges facing the justice system and offering more and better access to justice for people who have experienced sexual violence.

We were also pleased to host a launch event and panel discussion on the issue of justice responses to sexual violence with ALRC President Justice Mordy Bromberg, Commissioner Marcia Neave, Expert Advisory Group member Sarah Rosenberg, and ABC journalist Patricia Karvelas as moderator. We were also privileged to have former prime minister Julia Gillard open the event. You can now watch the recording of the live event.

The ALRC is particularly grateful to the Lived Experience Expert Advisory Group, whose expertise informed the Final Report and recommendations. We thank everyone who contributed to the Inquiry through submissions and consultations.

New Inquiries Commenced: Surrogacy Laws and Human Tissue Laws

The ALRC has commenced work on two new Inquiries; a Review of Surrogacy Laws and a Review of Human Tissue Laws. Terms of reference have been formally received from the Attorney-General, and are available on our website.

We have also announced two senior appointments to these reviews: Dr Maeghan Toews has joined our Review of Human Tissue Laws as Commissioner, and Associate Professor Ronli Sifris has joined our Review of Surrogacy Laws as Assistant Commissioner. Both Dr Toews and Dr Sifris are well-regarded legal academics and experts in their respective fields, and the ALRC looks forward to drawing on their leadership and knowledge throughout these Inquiries.

The Review of the Future Acts Regime continues, with work now focused on our upcoming Discussion Paper. Having consulted on the challenges with the regime through our Issues Paper, the Discussion Paper will highlight possible solutions and reforms, and we will be seeking your input. Submissions will be open following the publication of the Discussion Paper in May. If you haven’t already, subscribe to updates from the Review of the Future Acts Regime to be notified when the Discussion Paper is published.

ALRC’s 50th Anniversary and Australasian Law Reform Conference (ALRAC)

This year, the ALRC celebrates half a century of law reform, from 1975-2025. In addition to the robust program of work being undertaken by the ALRC in its 50th year, we are also looking forward to two very special events.

Firstly, a 50th anniversary celebration dinner will be held, bringing together Presidents, Commissioners, staff, friends and colleagues of the Commission, past and present. With speeches and reflections from key contributors to our 50-year history, it promises to be a special evening and a chance to celebrate an outstanding legacy of law reform and legal innovation.

We are also pleased to be hosting the Australasian Law Reform Agencies Conference (ALRAC). Previously postponed due to covid, ALRAC has been organised and hosted by Australian and international law reform agencies, with the Victorian Law Reform Commission last hosting ALRAC in 2016. The ALRC team has commenced developing the conference program for ALRAC 2025, and will be in touch with law reform agencies and other prospective guests in due course.

Please keep an eye out for Save the Date invitations. If you have any questions or would like to express interest in these events, please get in touch.