The peak community law organisation welcomed the opportunity to continue working with Attorney General Mark Speakman, and outlined the need for reform in three key areas: child protection, justice reinvestment and consent relating to sexual assault.
In relation to child protection, Community Legal Centres NSW Chairperson Katrina Ironside said that the NSW government has a fresh opportunity to engage with concerns raised regarding legislation that was introduced at the end of last year against the advice of the legal, community and Aboriginal sectors.
In terms of justice reinvestment, Ms Ironside said that “both state and federal governments have so far failed to respond substantively to the Australian Law Reform Commission’s 2018 Pathways to Justice report, which recommended that justice reinvestment underpin reforms to address the disgraceful incarceration levels of Aboriginal women, men and children.”
With regard to consent law reform, Ms Ironside says that the NSW Law Reform Commission review of consent in relation to sexual assault is “landmark opportunity for the NSW government to spearhead cultural change in relation to sexual assault and violence against women.”
Community Legal Centres NSW also reiterated the importance of the community law sector and its role in engaging with political decision-makers and the broader community.
“People’s access to justice should not depend on their gender, the colour of their skin or the size of their bank balance. The work of community legal centres helps people navigate tough times, ensuring that people get the assistance they need when they need it, and particularly people and communities experiencing disempowerment, discrimination and economic disadvantage.”
Read the media release in full here.
