Law reform & policy work

The Illawarra Legal Centre undertakes policy and law reform work as part of an integrated service delivery strategy involving the advice, casework and legal education activities of the Centre. The Centre seeks to act in the best interests of its clients and this means at times seeking to change government policy. We do this from an access to justice platform, not a party political one. The Centre also seeks to produce systemic outcomes through its legal practice work by conducting precedent-setting litigation.

Policy and law reform activities are undertaken by the Centre as part of a broad network of consumer, community, legal aid, welfare and other organisations operating within NSW and nationally. In developing and implementing policy and law reform initiatives, the Centre seeks, as far as possible, to draw on the experience and views of other relevant consumer and community groups and in particular, the communities they serve.

Much of the work undertaken by the Centre in this area is in relation to responding to Government inquiries and calls for submissions on areas of law and policy directly relating to our clients.

Law reform activities include projects that:

Analyse the impact of the law on our community, particularly groups who experience social and economic disadvantage.

Draw to the attention of government and other relevant institutions, as well as the broader community, any injustices within the law.

Recommend changes to the law and its operation, based on our experiences within our community.

Areas of law reform & policy work:

2006/07
The Illawarra Tenants Service tendered a submission to the Office of Fair Trading on proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act. December 2007

The Illawarra Legal Centre raised awareness about the Federal Electoral and Referendum Amendment (Electoral Integrity and Other Measures) Act 2006 by initiating a campaign to ensure people were aware of the changes.

Illawarra Tenants Service submission to the NSW Ombudsman resulting in new Department of Housing policy on tenant charges. March 2007

Family Relationship Centres, Family Relationship Advice Line and the Legal Profession. May 2006

2005/06
ILC submission to Commonwealth Inquiry into Workplace Relations Amendment (Workchoices) Bill 2005. October 2005

Complaint to Commonwealth Ombudsman by Generalist Project regarding poor communications by the Child Support Agency. October 2005

2004/05
ILC submission to Comment on the Consumer Credit (NSW) Amendment Maximum Annual Percentage Rate) Bill 2005 ("the Bill") May 2005

Submission to the Inquiry into the ASIO's detention and questioning powers/ Australia's Anti Terrorism laws 2005 March 2005

Complaint to Commonwealth Ombudsman by Welfare Rights Project regarding Marriage-Like Relationships (complaint is currently being investigated by the Ombudsman).

Representative Complaint to Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission by Generalist Project regarding failure by Child Support Agency to collect child support (March 2004) (no breaches of Australia's human rights obligations was found and so the complaint was declined.)

2003/04
Submission of ILC to the Review of NSW Community Legal Service Funding Program Nov 2004

ILC Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) Submission Feb 2004

ILC TICA Submission Jan 2004

ILC Welfare Rights Submission on Joint Residency Inquiry July 2003

ILC Generalist Submission on Joint Residency Inquiry July 2003

ILC Submission to the Charities Inquiry September 2003

ILC Submission to Senate Inquiry into Legal Aid Commission August 2003