The Illawarra Legal Centre’s policy and law reform work is focused on challenging potential and existing unfair laws and practices and making recommendations for improvements.

Our aim is to act in the best interests of our client and this may mean at times attempting to change government policies. This work is not politically motivated; rather it intends to improve the lives of our clients by helping them achieve justice.

The Centre’s activities are frequently undertaken as part of a broad network of consumer, community, legal aid, welfare and other organisations operating within NSW and nationally.

Much of our work in this area involves identifying areas for law reform as well as responding to Government inquiries and calls for submissions on areas of law and policy directly related to our clients.

Law reform activities include projects that:

• highlight the impact of the law on our community, particularly on groups who experience social and economic disadvantage;

• draw the community’s attention to any injustices within the law;

• bring to the attention of government and other institutions any injustices within the law;

• recommend changes to the law and the way it operates based on our experiences within our community.

 

Recent highlights of our law reform and policy work

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Human Rights in Australia. Can Australia Do More?

Human Rights and the ILC

Submission to the National Human Rights Consultation, June 2009

Submission to NSW Law Reform Commission - Consultation Paper 10 Penalty Notices

Submission to the Access to Justice Taskforce 2009

Other Useful Resources