Law reform

Redfern Legal Centre works to change unjust laws and policies that impact the communities we serve.

On this page

RLC works to make positive changes to the law and the legal system in each of our specialised areas of practice. Our law reform work is informed by our clients' experience of the legal system, and follows priorities set out in our 2020-2025 Strategic Plan.

Learn more about current law reform priorities and submissions undertaken by RLC.

Current focus areas

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Media releases

Today the NSW Supreme Court published its reasons in a test case about COVID-19 fines. The decision clarifies the requirements necessary for a fine to be valid, and calls into disrepute all the remaining 29,017 COVID-19 fines that have not been withdrawn.
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News

RLC and Slater and Gordon Lawyers have issued a class action proceeding for people who have been unlawfully searched by NSW Police at all music festivals in NSW since 22 July 2016.

Recent law reform submissions

Papers and submissions

Redfern Legal Centre, as part of the Power to Prevent Coalition, calls on the Australian Government to adopt an Equal Access costs model for all discrimination matters.
Papers and submissions

RLC's submission on the nature and extent of poverty in Australia highlighted the links between domestic violence and homelessness & debts keeping victim survivors in abusive relationships. In order to address this, the Government needs to fund specialist Financial Abuse services and ensure that they collect relevant data to inform evidence-based policy.
Papers and submissions

RLC's submission discusses current and future housing needs including affordable social and Aboriginal housing, and Waterloo's social housing community through redevelopment and relocations.

Media releases

Media releases

Today the NSW Supreme Court published its reasons in a test case about COVID-19 fines. The decision clarifies the requirements necessary for a fine to be valid, and calls into disrepute all the remaining 29,017 COVID-19 fines that have not been withdrawn.
Media releases

NSW Supreme Court the State of New South Wales conceded that the COVID-19 fines issued to the three plaintiffs are invalid and fail to meet the legal requirements under the Fines Act (NSW).
Media releases

Latest NSW Police strip-search figures show that throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, thousands of people were still being subjected to strip searches, with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and children disproportionately targeted.

Law reform news

News

Are you passionate about social justice, and committed to governance and the community legal sector? Redfern Legal Centre is looking for several new Directors, to plan for the succession of a number of Directions whose time on the Board will be concluding in the next 6-12 months.
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Gadigal Land, PO Box 1805,
Strawberry Hills NSW 2012