NCJ Number
62185
Date Published
1978
Length
77 pages
Annotation
THE AUSTRALIAN LAW REFORM COMMISIONS'S FOURTH-YEAR (1978) REPORT SUMMARIZES ITS ACTIVITIES AS A CLEARINGHOUSE FOR LAW REFORM PROPOSALS AND PRESENTS SUGGESTIONS FOR UNITING LAW REFORM IDEAS.
Abstract
IN 1978, THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS TOWARD UNIFORM LAWS IN AUSTRALIA IN A NUMBER OF AREAS. UNIFORM CREDIT LAWS WERE UNVEILED, AND PROGRESS WAS MADE IN IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE AUSTRALIAN CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION REGARDING FAMILY LAW REFERRED BY THE STATES TO THE COMMONWEALTH. UNDER ITS STATUTE, THE COMMISSION CONSIDERS PROPOSALS FOR UNIFORMITY BETWEEN THE LAWS OF THE TERRITORIES AND THE LAWS OF THE STATES. THE COMMISSION HAS SOUGHT TO ENGAGE THE AUSTRALIAN PUBLIC IN DEBATE REGARDING THE DIVERSITY OF DEFAMATION LAWS IN THE FACE OF MODERN COMMUNICATIONS DISPENSING LARGE AMOUNTS OF INFORMATION, AND UNIFORMITY IN LAWS REGARDING HUMAN TISSUE TRANSPLANT. THE COMMISSION COOPERATED WITH STATE AND TERRITORIAL LAW REFORM COMMISSIONS IN THE AREAS OF CONSUMER DEBT AND PRIVACY PROTECTION. REFERENCES ALREADY COMPLETED BY THE COMMISSION DEAL WITH COMPLAINTS AGAINST POLICE; CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION; ALCOHOL, DRUGS, AND DRIVING; CONSUMERS IN DEBT; HUMAN TISSUE TRANSPLANTS; AND COMPLAINTS AGAINST POLICE, A SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT. REFERENCES CURRENTLY UNDER PREPARATION DEAL WITH PRIVACY; ACCESS TO THE COURTS (STANDING TO SUE, CLASS ACTIONS); ABORIGINAL CUSTOMARY LAW; LANDS ACQUISITION; AND SENTENCING. IN ISSUES OF LAW REFORM, THE COMMISSION HAS SOUGHT INPUT FROM THE LAWS AND LAW REFORM EFFORTS OF OTHER NATIONS, AS WELL AS NATIONAL SOURCES AND LEGAL TRADITIONS. THE STRUCTURE OF THE COMMISSION AND ITS FINANCIAL STATEMENT ARE PROVIDED. ACTIONS ON COMPLETED REPORTS ARE ALSO INDICATED. A BIBLIOGRAPHY AND INDEX ARE INCLUDED. (RCB)