Beginning with an examination of the importance and scope of access to justice, this report analyses supply and demand in the federal justice system, recommending the adoption of a Strategic Framework for Access to Justice. The Strategic Framework is intended to be a tool for policymakers to ensure better and more integrated access to justice...

In the years since NADRAC was established, ADR has expanded into a large, highly diverse and innovative field. Consumers, lawyers and other stakeholders have a greatly improved, though still imperfect, appreciation of the benefits of ADR. Many stakeholders expressed a welcome understanding of the value of ADR. However, it was also evident that while there...

The new National Indigenous Languages Policy is aimed at keeping Indigenous languages alive and supporting Indigenous Australians to connect with their language, culture and country.

This paper outlines proposed legislative reforms to Australia's counter-terrorism and national security legislation. It contains amendments that respond to the following reviews of Australia’s counter-terrorism and national security legislation: • Inquiry by the Hon John Clarke QC into the case of Dr Mohamed Haneef (November 2008); • Inquiry into the proscription of ‘terrorist organisations’ under...

The National Alternative Dispute Resolution Advisory Council (NADRAC) was established in 1995 as an independent body to provide the Attorney-General with policy advice on the development of ways of resolving or managing disputes without a judicial decision. On 13 June 2008 the Attorney-General wrote to NADRAC requesting that it enquire into and identify strategies to...