Law reform in times of rapid scientific change
4.18 A critical issue for this Inquiry is how to make today’s law reform relevant to the scientific developments of tomorrow. The importance and the difficulty of achieving this was a common theme in submissions made to the Inquiry. For example, Louise Martinovic submitted:There is widespread community concern that as developments in [human genetics] are …
Publications
Read moreSecrecy Laws and Open Government -Terms of Reference
I, ROBERT McCLELLAND, Attorney-General of Australia, having regard to: the desirability of having comprehensive, consistent and workable laws and practices in relation to the protection of Commonwealth information; the increased need to share such information within and between governments and with the private sector; the importance of balancing the need to protect Commonwealth information and …
Publications
Read moreProcess of reform
Mapping secrecy laws1.20 An integral component of the background research undertaken by the ALRC for this Inquiry was a ‘mapping exercise’ to identify and analyse the multitude of secrecy provisions in Commonwealth legislation. The 506 secrecy provisions identified by the ALRC are scattered throughout 176 pieces of primary and subordinate legislation administrative responsibility for which …
Publications
Read moreALRC submission to inquiry into the provisions of the National Security Legislation Amendment Bill 2010 and Parliamentary Joint Committee on Law Enforcement Bill 2010
Submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, 3 May 2010The Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the Committee’s inquiry. The ALRC will restrict its comments to the National Security Legislation Amendment Bill 2010 (Cth), drawing on its experience from the major inquiry into sedition laws in …
Publications
Read moreALRC Submission to the Inquiry into the Tax Laws Amendment (Confidentiality of Taxpayer Information) Bill 2009 (Cth)
The Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) makes the following submission to the Senate Standing Committee of Privileges Inquiry into the Tax Laws Amendment (Confidentiality of Taxpayer Information) Bill 2009 (Cth) (the Bill), on 15 April 2010In making this submission, the ALRC draws on its experience from its inquiry into secrecy laws which culminated in the …
Publications
Read moreALRC reforms strike a blow to the old culture of secrecy
Secrecy laws, and the prosecution of public servants for the unauthorised disclosure of Commonwealth information, can sit uneasily with the Australian Government’s commitment to open and accountable government. The final report of the Australian Law Reform Commission’s comprehensive review of Commonwealth secrecy laws, Secrecy Laws and Open Government in Australia (ALRC Report 112) was tabled …
News/Media Release
Read moreALRC submission to Senate Standing Committee inquiry into the Freedom of Information Amendment (Reform) Bill 2009 (Cth) and the Information Commissioner Bill 2009 (Cth)
The Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) makes the following submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Public Administration inquiry into the draft Freedom of Information Amendment (Reform) Bill 2009 (Cth) and the Information Commissioner Bill 2009 (Cth). The ALRC made a submission to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet on the …
Publications
Read moreSecrecy laws and open government
Secrecy laws that impose obligations of confidentiality on individuals handling government information—and the prosecution of public servants for the unauthorised disclosure of such information—can sit uneasily with the Australian Government’s commitment to open and accountable government. Secrecy laws have also drawn sustained criticism on the basis that they unreasonably interfere with the right to freedom …
Inquiries
Read moreMedia Briefing – Review of Secrecy Laws: Discussion Paper 74
Introduction This briefing provides an overview of the ALRC’s Discussion Paper, Review of Secrecy Laws (DP 74). On 5 August 2008, the Attorney-General of Australia, the Hon Robert McClelland MP, asked the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) to conduct an Inquiry into options for ensuring a consistent approach across government to the protection of Commonwealth information …
News/Media Release
Read moreALRC proposals to wind back federal secrecy laws
The Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) today released a Discussion Paper for its current inquiry into federal secrecy laws—Review of Secrecy Laws (DP 74, June 2009)—which makes 65 proposals for reform.The ALRC is seeking community feedback about how to balance a growing commitment to increased openness and transparency in government with the legitimate need to maintain the …
News/Media Release
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