Integration and collaboration
226 In this section the ALRC asks questions about how integrated services models can be further developed to assist family law clients with complex needs, how the need for families to engage with more than one court to address safety concerns for children can be reduced, and how collaboration and information sharing between the family …
Publications
Read moreFines and infringement notices
12.6 The term ‘fines’ usually encompasses both fines imposed by courts following convictions and infringement notices, which are monetary penalties handed out at the point of infringement by issuing officers. Issuing officers include transit police, police officers and council workers.[1] The two penalty types have clear differences and non‑payment can have different consequences. Nonetheless, unless …
Publications
Read moreIncrease the efficacy of fine regimes
Recommendation 12–2 State and territory governments should work with relevant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations to develop options that: reduce the imposition of fines and infringement notices;limit the penalty amounts of infringement notices;avoid suspension of driver licences for fine default; andprovide alternative ways of paying fines and infringement notices.12.41 Fines are of little benefit …
Publications
Read moreALRC InBrief | January 2018
The ALRC Brief covers general news from the Commission, including updates on current inquiries, implementation of past reports, job vacancies and the ALRC intern program. The ALRC Brief is emailed to subscribers three to four times a year. Subscribe to the ALRC Brief A message from incoming ALRC President, the Hon. Justice S C Derrington I am both honoured and privileged to …
News/Media Release
Read moreFines and infringement notices
12.6 The term ‘fines’ usually encompasses both fines imposed by courts following convictions and infringement notices, which are monetary penalties handed out at the point of infringement by issuing officers. Issuing officers include transit police, police officers and council workers.[1] The two penalty types have clear differences and non‑payment can have different consequences. Nonetheless, unless …
Publications
Read moreIncrease the efficacy of fine regimes
Recommendation 12–2 State and territory governments should work with relevant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations to develop options that: reduce the imposition of fines and infringement notices;limit the penalty amounts of infringement notices;avoid suspension of driver licences for fine default; andprovide alternative ways of paying fines and infringement notices.12.41 Fines are of little benefit …
Publications
Read moreOverview of the Report
ContextIn 1991, the RCIADIC found that the fundamental causes for over-representation of Aboriginal people in custody were not located within the criminal justice system. Such a claim has been echoed many times since. In Chapter 2, the ALRC places the disproportionate incarceration rates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today in social and historical …
Publications
Read moreTerms of Reference
ALRC inquiry into the incarceration rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoplesI, Senator the Hon George Brandis QC, Attorney-General of Australia, refer to the Australian Law Reform Commission, an inquiry into the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in our prisons.It is acknowledged that while laws and legal frameworks are an important factor …
Publications
Read moreImproving police practices and procedures
Recommendation 14–1 Commonwealth, state and territory governments should review police procedures and practices so that the law is enforced fairly, equally and without discrimination with respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.14.19 Throughout this Inquiry, a number of stakeholders informed the ALRC that police practices and policies contribute to the over-incarceration of Aboriginal and …
Publications
Read moreComplaints against police
Recommendation 14–2 To provide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities with greater confidence in the integrity of police complaints handling processes, Commonwealth, state and territory governments should review their police complaints handling mechanisms to ensure greater practical independence, accountability and transparency of investigations.14.48 The ALRC recognises that a number of jurisdictions have recently …
Publications
Read more