Working for Change
RLC works to make positive change in laws and the legal system in each of its specialist areas of law. RLC's work in this area is based on our clients' experience in interacting with the legal system.
Key issues
RLC Submission: Crimes Legislation Amendment (Coercive Control) Bill 2022
On 30 August, RLC made a submission in response to the NSW Government’s draft legislation criminalising coercive control in intimate partner relationships.Key Issues
RLC submission: Redfern North Eveleigh – Paint Shop rezoning proposal
RLC's submission highlights an opportunity for the proposed renewal of the Redfern North Eveleigh Precinct to deliver much-needed social, affordable and Aboriginal housing.
Call for better solutions for victim-survivors
RLC has joined more than 70 organisations calling on NSW Government to remove the requirement to prove injury in Victims Support applications.
Urgent law reform needed to prevent sexual harassment at work
RLC has signed a joint statement alongside 60 groups and individuals calling on the federal government to implement the remaining recommendations of the landmark Repect@Work report before the next federal election.
Submission: Response to the draft National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032
The Economic Abuse Reference Group (EARG) made a submission to the draft National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032. Redfern Legal Centre coordinates the NSW chapter of EARG.
A call on government to pause enforcement of COVID-19 fines over the holidays
A coalition of 33 legal and civil society organisations, including RLC, have signed an open letter calling for an immediate pause on enforcement action of COVID fines over the holiday period.
Joint submission: Life Insurance Code final round of consultation
Financial Rights Legal Centre, Consumer Action Law Centre and Redfern Legal Centre have made a joint submission to the final round of consultation on the review of the Life Insurance Code of Practice (Life Insurance Code).
'We cannot fine our way out of the pandemic': a call to address unjust COVID-19 fines
Over 100 prominent members of the legal, academic and political profession have endorsed an open letter addressed to the NSW Premier, calling on the NSW Government to revoke wrongly issued COVID-19 fines.
RLC calls for unlawfully issued COVID-19 fines to be revoked
RLC is calling on the NSW Government to revoke all COVID-19 fines that have been wrongfully issued by NSW Police to people undertaking lawful recreation.
Joint Submission to the Senate Select Committee on Job Security
RLC and Kingsford Legal Centre and have made a joint submission to the Senate Select Committee on Job Security, calling for reforms to increase access to secure employment, and ensure that all workers receive strong legal protections, regardless of the nature of their employment.
Submission: Interim Report to the Australian Government on the Indigenous Voice Co-Design Process
RLC’s policy submission strongly supports the enshrinement of a First Nations Voice in the Australian Constitution.
Submission: Coercive control in domestic relationships
In February, the Economic Reference Group NSW (EARG NSW) made a submission to the Joint Select Committee on Coercive Control’s inquiry into coercive control in domestic relationships.
Increased protections for renters needed as moratorium on evictions ends in NSW
RLC has joined more than 40 tenants’ advocacy groups and NGOs, in calling for greater protections for renters following the expiration of the moratorium on evictions in NSW.
Safe safe lending: What you can do
On 26 February EARG representatives including RLC appeared before the Economics Legislation Committee to discuss the impact of the reforms for victim-survivors of economic abuse.
RLC submissions: consumer credit reforms (February 2021)
RLC has made submissions to the Senate Inquiry into Australia’s consumer credit framework in response to the National Consumer Credit Protection Amendment (Supporting Economic Recovery) Bill 2020.
For more key issues, see our Working For Change archive
Read more about our work, to make positive changes in laws and the legal system, under each of our services here.
Recent Submissions
30 August 2022 RLC Submission: Crimes Legislation Amendment (Coercive Control) Bill 2022
25 August 2022 RLC submission: Redfern North Eveleigh – Paint Shop rezoning proposal
8 July 2022 RLC Submission: Victims Rights and Support Act 2013 (NSW)
25 February 2022 Response to the draft National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032
28 September 2021 Joint submission: Life Insurance Code final round of consultation
21 April 2021 Submission: Interim Report to the Australian Government on the Indigenous Voice Co-Design Process
21 April 2021 Submission to the Senate Select Committee on Job Security (RLC and Kingsford Legal Centre)
22 February 2021 Coercive control in domestic relationships
3 February 2021 National Consumer Credit Protection Amendment (Supporting Economic Recovery) Bill 2020
29 January 2021 RLC's Response to NSW Government’s Homelessness Strategy 2018-2023
18 December 2020 RLC submission: Follow-up Review of the Management of Public Housing Maintenance Contracts
20 November 2020 Treasury consultation: Consumer Credit Reforms
30 July 2020 Joint Submission: Senate Select Committee Inquiry into Temporary Migration
9 April 2020 Submission: Code of Practice for Buy Now, Pay Later Providers
31 January 2020 Religious Freedom Reforms – second exposure draft
1 April 2019 #MeToo: Legal Responses to Sexual Harassment at Work
15 February 2019 Submission: Review of the early release of superannuation benefits
RLC In Hansard
13 September 2021 Select Committee on Temporary Migration (Chapter 6)
15 April 2021 Select Committee Report on The high level of First Nations people in custody and oversight and review of deaths in custody
15 March 2021 National Consumer Credit Protection Amendment (Supporting Economic Recovery) Bill 2020
25 February 2021 National Consumer Credit Protection Amendment (Supporting Economic Recovery) Bill 2020 (second reading)
18 November 2020 Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Amendment (Coercive and Controlling Behaviour) Bill 2020 (Second reading speech, Ms Abigail Boyd, MLC)
14 November 2019 Alex Greenwich on the impact of community legal centres (Private Members' Statements)
13 November 2018 Review of Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 (NSW) – Second Reading
26 September 2018 Residential Tenancies Amendment (Review) Bill 2018 – Second Reading
12 September 2018 Modern Slavery Bill 2018 – Second Reading